‘Ultimate public servant’ to be honoured by Alumni Association

After dedicating his life to the Ontario public service, Tony Dean will be recognized at fall
convocation Friday with the McMaster University Distinguished Alumni Award.

Called the “ultimate public servant” by the premier of Ontario, Dean, who earned his
master's degree in sociology from McMaster in 1980, began his career as a millwright. He
later advanced through the ranks of the Ontario public service, working for the ministry of
labour where his work on labour policy, collective bargaining services and communications
led to his appointment as deputy minister in 1998.

In 1999 Dean was appointed deputy minister and associate secretary of cabinet for the
province, taking on senior leadership roles with many of the government's main agencies.
He was later made head of the public service, during which time he accelerated its
modernization and promoted better collaboration within and between governments in
delivering services.

“Tony epitomizes all of the qualities we look for in Distinguished Alumni,” said Karen
McQuigge, director of Alumni Advancement. “We're very proud of all that he has
accomplished and are honoured to call him a member of the McMaster family.”

The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes McMaster graduates who have attained a high
level of distinction and achievement through scholarship, research, teaching, creative
contributions to the arts or sciences and/or service to society. The award is intended to
honour alumni whose accomplishments and contributions are of national and/or
international significance, and/or have had a seminal or transformative impact on their
field of endeavour.

Now a professor at the University of Toronto, Dean is often called upon to provide
expertise in public service leadership, public policy development and mediation both
nationally and internationally.

He will receive his award at the morning convocation ceremony, scheduled for 9:30 a.m. in
Hamilton Place's Great Hall.