Media Release

Raymond Mcfeetors to Receive Honorary Doctorate Degree

Great West Lifeco president to be recognized for business acumen, commitment to community

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – JULY 25, 2007

WINNIPEG, MB – From humble beginnings growing up in a farming community in southwestern Manitoba, Ray McFeetors has achieved international recognition as head of the largest insurance company in Canada. The President and CEO of Great-West Lifeco. Inc. is being recognized for his great achievements in the business world and dedication to community by being awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by The University of Winnipeg.

McFeetors, who joined Great-West Life as a trainee in the Group Division, is a Collegiate (’65) and University of Winnipeg graduate (BA ’68). Since taking over the helm of Great-West Life in 1992, McFeetors has overseen the acquisitions of London Life in 1997 and Canada Life in 2003 as well as the expansion into the wealth management sector. He is also Honorary Colonel for the Royal Winnipeg Rifles and served as a member of the honour guard at the royal wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005.

“Ray exemplifies home-grown success. Manitoba born, Ray studied at The University of Winnipeg and rose up through the ranks to lead the largest insurance company in Canada – headquartered in Winnipeg,” said Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, President & Vice-Chancellor of The University of Winnipeg. “And he embodies what the University is all about through his community spirit, his success and his everlasting enthusiasm for his alma mater.”

McFeetors credits his time at UWinnipeg for shaping the person he is today.

“Your university years are the best years of your life,” he says fondly. “There’s no question that the training I got at The University of Winnipeg has stayed with me – my ability to speak in public and communicate came out of my experience in Theatre and emceeing comedy shows in Convocation Hall.”

McFeetors is one of nine people who will receive University of Winnipeg honorary doctorate degrees at a Special Convocation ceremony Friday, Sept. 14, 2007 at 3:00 p.m. in Convocation Hall. He is the first individual to be named an honorary degree recipient. The University will announce the other recipients in the weeks leading up to its 40th Anniversary Homecoming Event, slated for Sept. 13-16.

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Located in the heart of downtown, The University of Winnipeg is a compact, diverse, multicultural academic community committed to access and excellence. Home to more than 9,200 full- and part-time students, UWinnipeg has been ranked by our graduates in the Top Ten of all Canadian universities when asked about their “Entire Educational Experience” (Macleans’ Graduate Survey, June 2006). The Globe & Mail 2006 Report Card gives The University of Winnipeg an overall ‘A’ grade in the areas of quality of education, teaching quality, class sizes, facultys - tudent interaction, and the availability of faculty outside classroom hours. Find out why. Visit www.uwinnipeg.ca. Celebrate The University of Winnipeg's 40th Anniversary at Homecoming - September 13-16, 2007. For more information or to register, visit http://40th.uwinnipeg.ca

For more information, please contact:
Ilana Simon, Communications Officer
The University of Winnipeg
T: 204.786.9930 C: 204.782.3279 i.simon@uwinnipeg.ca