This year’s Fall Convocation saw a new but familiar presence in the role of Chancellor, as Suzanne Labarge was formally installed during Friday’s proceedings.

The esteemed McMaster alumna began her three-year term on Sept. 1, succeeding longtime Chancellor and fellow alumnus Lynton “Red” Wilson. The Chancellor admits each new graduate to his or her respective degree during Convocation ceremonies.

“I am delighted and honoured to be offered this role,” she told the Daily News earlier this year. “I’ve been involved with McMaster in so many ways. Now, to have the opportunity to be chancellor and to confer degrees on young people who have put so much time and effort into their education and who represent the best McMaster has to offer will be a true privilege.”

Labarge graduated from McMaster in 1967 with a degree from the Faculty of Social Sciences (Economics). She worked for the Royal Bank for 14 years before spending a decade with the federal government in several senior positions, including deputy superintendent of financial institutions. Labarge later returned to RBC, and retired in 2004 as vice-chairman and chief risk officer.

A well-respected philanthropist and volunteer, last year she gave a gift of $10 million to McMaster to establish the Labarge Optimal Aging Initiative. The program will sponsor interdisciplinary research efforts at the University, and establish a website portal on healthy aging that will provide information to health care professionals, researchers, policy makers and the general public.