Madame Chancellor: I have the honour to present Mr. Samuel Nathan Cohen, Member of the Order of and Honorary Fellow of Bar-Han University; a most distinguished citizen of . Mr. Cohen was born in almost sixty years ago. He began his early education in this city before moving to Calgary where he completed his education. Upon graduation from Central Collegiate Institute he started his business career in Calgary with General Distributors of Canada Limited. Winnipeg, being the major distribution centre in the region, attracted Mr. Cohen back to his birthplace in 1947 to head up Saan Stores Ltd. Since that time he has become extensively involved in an executive capacity in the chain stores and distribution industries including Vice·Chairman of the Board, Metropolitan Stores of Canada, Ltd.; Treasurer, General Distributors of Canada, Ltd.; Vice-President, Sony of Canada, Ltd., as well as President of Saan Stores. The growth of these firms speaks highly of his capacity to provide dynamic leadership to these enterprises. In addition, Mr. Cohen is a director of a number of corporations in Canada. For most people the demands of the executive positions held by Mr. Cohen would absorb all of their time and energy, but to Sam Cohen, one's wealth of talents must be shared with the community. His belief in this principle is evidenced by his extensive involvement in such endeavours as the Winnipeg Symphony, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, the Manitoba Centennial Centre, the Manitoba Foundation for Sports, Inc., the Manitoba Olympic Development Foundation, the United Jewish Appeal, the State of Israel Bond Drive, and St. Boniface General Hospital Research Foundation. From this very incomplete list, I have chosen one example which captures the essence of his talents, namely, his Chairmanship of the St. Boniface General Hospital Research Foundation. When Senator Gil Molgat asked Mr. Cohen to take on the chairman­ ship, at first he was reluctant. Then he remembered that he and two of his brothers took their first breaths of life in St. Boniface Hospital. Consequently, he agreed to undertake this responsibility. At that time the Foundation was having difficulty in capturing the imagination of the public to provide financial support. Sam Cohen initiated the annual International Awards Dinner in 1976 bringing to Winnipeg such distin· guished persons as Dr. Jonas Edward Salk, Dr. Christian Barnard and his Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. It is because of his vision, his tenacity and his dedication that the Foundation is well on the road to achieving its goal of raising $5 million for medical research. Sam Cohen breathed life into the Foundation and has assured the fulfillment of its motto, "Prolong Your Life". Mr. Sam Cohen married Leatrice Diamond, of Winnipeg, and has three children, Charles, Mark and Sheri. Sam Cohen has received many recognitions for his humanitarian endeavours and his commitment to his community, to Canada, his religion and the State of Israel. Among those recognitions are his being honoured by the Prime Minister of Israel in 1960, his being named an Honorary Fellow of Bar·Ban University in 1972, and his being made a member of the Order of Canada in 1978. It is only fit and proper that he also be recognized for his many contributions by the University of Manitoba. Madame Chancellor, it is an honour and a privilege for me to ask, in the name of Senate, that you confer upon Mr. Samuel Nathan Cohen, the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.

D.R. Campbell President May 25, 1979.