O'Connor, Arthur Jerome

CONVOCATION, OCTOBER, 1983
ARTHUR JEROME O’CONNOR
to be Doctor of Science

Arthur O’Connor is already one of us -– he holds the degree of Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from this University -– but is our custom, whenever we find men of signal merit, to bind them to our hearts with a double bond, "to honour them with our highest academic title, and to distinguish them with its insignia."

A native New Brunswicker he found Mary, his wife, on the banks of the Miramichi, and all their eight children claim various spots in this province as their birthplace. He has spent over thirty years with the New Brunswick Electric Power Commission in positions of ever increasing responsibility; since 1967 he has been its General Manager and in that role his major achievement has been to help this Province and its people survive, and even prosper, through an energy crisis which has shaken the very foundations of Canada and the world.

To do this he has moved this Province, out of its position of relative isolation in the North American power grid, into a full national and international partnership. New Brunswick with its limited conventional energy sources had no choice but to move with the times, but it is Art O’Connor who has kept it moving ahead of the times. He has done this with the prudent and responsible leadership always so critical when moving into untried areas and unknown territories.

I cannot this evening begin to list the executive positions which he has held in our national professional organizations, but I must note his latest distinction; he has been elected President of the Canadian National Committee of the World Energy Conference for 1983. Founded over half a century ago the "World Energy Conference is a permanent organization dedicated to the objective of promoting the development and peaceful use of energy resources to the greatest possible benefit both nationally and internationally." Less than a month ago he carried Canada’s colours in the Terry Fox run in New Delhi, where the meetings of the Conference were held this year. Closer to home he can be found on many evenings covering an eight kilometer route as he jogs up and down the hills of Fredericton.

Arthur O’Connor’s deep concern for the future and his passionate dedication to his job have brought our power commission "on line" with the rest of the world, and from that rest of the world, beyond our borders, he has brought back ideas and techniques which have enabled this Province to play a major role in cushioning the shocks of a wild ride on the roller coaster of energy costs. When pressed about his achievements this modest man consistently stresses the fact that none of these things could have been done without the dedication and skill of his fellow workers and NBPower, or without the tolerance and support of his family. This man loves his job, his Province, and his family, and it is right and proper that we should honour him tonight.

Insignissime Praeses, amplissima Cancellaria, tota Universitas, praesento vobis Arthurum Jerome O’Connor ut admittatur honoris causa ad gradem Doctoris in Scientia in hac Universitate.

From: Honoris Causa - UA Case 70, Box 2