Clark, Charles Joseph

ENCAENIA, MAY, 1976
CHARLES JOSEPH CLARK
to be Doctor of Laws

"O, young Lochinvar is come out of the west,
Through all the wide land his steed is the best.
So faithful in love and dauntless in war,
There ne’er will be knight like the young Lochinvar".

Mr. Chancellor, it is my pleasure to present the Honourable Joe Clark, Member of Parliament for Rocky Mountain, the young Lochinvar of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada.

The product of an intensely political family, which was from his birth the crucible of his future destiny, Joe Clark, somewhat like Paul on the road to Damascus, was called to his political destiny on that day when, at the age of sixteen, he sat in the public gallery of the House of Commons to observe the now-historic Trans-Canada Pipeline debate. He had travelled to Ottawa a loyal Liberal; he returned to High River, Alberta a confirmed Conservative.

In the early stage of his personal and political development, Joe Clark was to be influenced by exposure to the academic climate of the University of Alberta and of Dalhousie University as well as by active contact with journalism at high school, university and commercial levels. He served his early political apprenticeship as private secretary to a leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta, as National President of the Progressive Conservative Student Federation and as Founding Chairman of the Canadian Political Youth Council.

However, apprenticeship cannot last forever. Joe Clark entered another cycle of political reality in 1966 when he became Director of Provincial Organization for the Honourable Peter Lougheed, a post which allowed him to utilize his outstanding powers of organization. The uncertain joys of personal involvement as a political candidate followed soon after. Later still, his service as Special Assistant to the Honourable Davie Fulton and as Executive Assistant to the Honourable Robert L. Stanfield opened up an interesting and important period of his political education.

The pattern of political destiny accelerated with Joe Clark's election to the House of Commons in 1972 and with his re-election in 1974. Service in the "Shadow Cabinet" of the Progressive Conservative Party brought to him and to his associates a clear awareness of his future potential. Canadians of all political inclinations watched with fascination the process which culminated in his election, on February 22, 1976, as Leader of his Party and as Leader of the Official Opposition.

His past has been exciting and productive. The future beckons to him in tantalizing fashion. While it is idle to speculate about that future, it is certain that Joe Clark will bring to it high qualities of heart and mind together with a necessary sense and understanding of Canada, of her problems and of her destiny. Canada expects much of her young leaders and a great deal of Charles Joseph Clark.

We are reminded that, a number of years ago, the University of New Brunswick paid honour to a United States Senator on the eve of his election as President of that nation; one must wonder whether we stand on the threshold of a parallel of history.

Praeses admittit Carolum Josephum Clark honoris causa ad gradum Doctoris in Utroque Jure.

From: Honoris Causa - UA Case 70, Box 2