Bill Sembo named Member of the Order of Canada

The Snyder Institute is extremely pleased to congratulate Bill Sembo, Chair of the Snyder Institute’s Strategic Advisory Board (SAB), on his recent appointment as a Member of the Order of Canada, announced on December 29, 2022 by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada.

Bill was appointed “for his expertise in energy investment banking, and for his dedicated philanthropy in support of community causes in Calgary.”

He has been a dedicated volunteer and philanthropist with many important not-for-profit organizations throughout his career. As Chair of our SAB since 2009, Bill has brought strong leadership, guidance and insight to the Snyder Institute. He is also a member of the Dean of Medicine’s Advisory Board, Cumming School of Medicine.

When asked about the inspiration for his passionate volunteerism and philanthropy, Bill responded, “I was fortunate to enjoy wonderful mentors and role models throughout my long business career. Many of those individuals encouraged me to get involved in ‘giving back’, helping to build a stronger, healthier community. Returning from business trips abroad I always marveled at how much Calgary was positively changing relative to other metropolitan cities, how dynamic its community of volunteers was and how we, as a community, did not wait on government for solutions. Instead, we funded, through generous philanthropy, multiple needs …  be those in the medical field, the arts, mental health and homelessness, or improving academic prowess. It’s rewarding to realize how one person can start to change things and that there are other like-minded folks in society who you can work alongside to collectively improve the status quo.”

“The late Bud McCaig, a successful Calgary-based business executive, encouraged me to get involved with the ‘health file’ in the mid-90s. He asked if I would be a candidate for appointment to the then Calgary Health Region’s Board of Directors. I joined in 1998, spending a little over three years with the organization which proved to be a fascinating learning experience.

When my term expired in 2001, I was snapped up by Dr. Grant Gall, then Dean of the Faculty of Medicine to serve on his Advisory Board where I still serve today as Co-Chair. In 2003 Grant, Bud McCaig and Harley Hotchkiss asked if I would co-lead a fundraiser for the medical school. Joined by Brenda Mackie and Ken King, we created the Reach! Capital Campaign, a joint initiative of the University’s Development Office, the Calgary Health Region and the Calgary Health Trust. Some four plus years later we had raised approximately $312M from individuals, families, foundations and businesses to fund ‘lab bench research to bedside clinical care’, the largest amount ever raised in Alberta at that time.”

“As Reach! was winding down I then became involved with the Snyder Institute as Chair of its Strategic Advisory Board. In 2015 I was asked to Chair the Foothills Hospital Development Council Board and automatically became a member of the Calgary Health Trust’s Board. In early 2017 I became Chair of the Trust’s Board and a member of its NewBorn Needs Capital Campaign meant to address the systemic neonatal issues in Alberta while also increasing neonatal care capacity in the AHS Calgary Zone."

"I have come to realize that great health care is inextricably tied to excellent medical research. In Alberta, and particularly in Calgary, we have a wonderfully talented group of medical educators, scientific investigators, clinicians and support personnel whose collective efforts provide excellent treatment, care and disease prevention.”

“Now at almost 70 years of age, I realize that being a lifelong learner is enriching, and volunteering to assist various not-for-profit organizations has been an important way to be exposed to new and different parts of everyday life in our country.”

What does it mean to Bill to be named a Member of the Order of Canada?

“I was truly surprised to learn that I was to be named a Member of the Order of Canada. It’s a great honour and frankly it is humbling. I have a wonderful family; I have enjoyed a very fulfilling business career and my time as a volunteer/fundraiser/philanthropist has been extremely rewarding. I am a lucky person. Hopefully my story encourages others to ‘give back’ of their time and resources.”

We thank Bill for his many years of service to the Snyder Institute and send our heartfelt congratulations on this very deserving honour.

Read more about UCalgary’s Order of Canada appointees.

View the complete list of Order of Canada appointees.

The Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases is a research facility at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine focused on advancing modern medicine’s capacity to ease the burden of chronic and infectious disease. Our 480 highly qualified researchers, clinicians and trainees use our world-class research facilities and technologies to make ground-breaking discoveries leading to disease prevention, tailored medical applications and ultimately cures for these conditions. Visit snyder.ucalgary.ca and follow  @SnyderInstitute to learn more.