W. Thomas Molloy

William Thomas Molloy[1] OC SOM QC (July 27, 1940 – July 2, 2019) was a Canadian lawyer, treaty negotiator, and Chancellor of the University of Saskatchewan. He was the 22nd Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, the viceregal representative of Queen Elizabeth II of Canada in the Province of Saskatchewan.

His Honour the Honourable W. Thomas Molloy OC SOM QC
22nd Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan
In office March 21, 2018 – July 2, 2019
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor General	Julie Payette
Premier	Scott Moe
Preceded by	Vaughn Schofield
Succeeded by	Russell Mirasty
Personal details
Born	William Thomas Molloy (1940-07-27)July 27, 1940 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Died	July 2, 2019(2019-07-02) (aged 78) Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Alma mater	University of Saskatchewan St. Thomas More College
Profession	Lawyer

Molloy was appointed Lieutenant Governor by the Governor General of Canada, Julie Payette, on the advice of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on January 22, 2018,[2] to succeed Vaughn Solomon Schofield. He was sworn in on March 21, 2018, at the Saskatchewan Legislative Building. He died of pancreatic cancer just over a year later, on July 2, 2019. The Province of Saskatchewan accorded Molloy a state memorial service on July 13, 2019.

Biography

Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on July 27, 1940, Molloy received a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Thomas More College and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Saskatchewan both in 1964.[3] He was called to the Bar in both Saskatchewan and Alberta. He was counsel with the Saskatoon law firm of Molloy Negotiations.

He was the Chief Negotiator for the Government of Canada in the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement, and for the Nisga'a Final Agreement.

He was the author of the book, The World Is Our Witness: The Historic Journey of the Nisga'a into Canada.

In 1996, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada for "his integrity, commitment to a just settlement and personable rapport".[4] In 2012, he was made a Member of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit.

On January 22, 2018, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Molloy's appointment as the next Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, to succeed Vaughn Solomon Schofield.[5] He was formally installed on March 21, 2018.[6][7]

On May 7, 2019, Molloy's office announced that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was stepping away from his post to undergo treatment, with his duties temporarily being taken over by Robert G. Richards, Chief Justice of Saskatchewan.[8] He died of the disease on July 2, 2019.[9]

On July 13, 2019, the Province of Saskatchewan accorded a state memorial service to Molloy in Saskatoon. Amongst those attending were the Governor General, Julie Payette; the Premier of Saskatchewan, Scott Moe; the federal Minister of Public Safety, Ralph Goodale; former Premier Roy Romanow, who was a classmate of Molloy at the University of Saskatchewan; and Perry Bellegarde, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations.[10]

Honours and Arms

Honours

• Officer of the Order of Canada[11]
• Knight of the Order of St John
• Member of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit

Coat of Arms

Molloy was granted a coat of arms by the Canadian Heraldic Authority on May 15, 2019 through Grant of Arms and Supporters, with differences to Corinne Anne Molloy, Jennifer Lee Molloy, Alison Marie Molloy and Kathryn Burke Molloy.[12]

Coat of arms of W. Thomas Molloy

Granted 2019 Crest A garb Or charged with a rose Gules barbed and seeded proper and issuant from an ancient crown Purpure. Escutcheon Tierced in pairle reversed Or, Vert, and Purpure, on a plate two scrolls in saltire Azure. Supporters Two lions guardant Or each gorged of a collar Azure pendent therefrom a rose Gules barbed and seeded, standing on a mount of Western red lilies, roses, and white lilies proper. Motto TRUST UNDERSTANDING AND PATIENCE

References

• "University of Saskatchewan Chancellor". Archived from the original on February 13, 2005. Retrieved January 5, 2006.

1. "Tom Molloy named Saskatchewan's next lieutenant-governor".
2. "Tom Molloy". January 22, 2018.
3. "Martindale-Hubbell International Law Directory". Martindale-Hubbell. July 23, 2018 – via Google Books.
4. Order of Canada citation
5. "Prime Minister announces new Lieutenant Governor for Saskatchewan". January 22, 2018.
6. "Lieutenant governor to be sworn in March 21". March 9, 2018.
7. Postey, Drew. "Tom Molloy becomes Saskatchewan's 22nd Lieutenant-Governor".
8. "Lieutenant Governor getting treatment for pancreatic cancer", Regina Leader-Post, May 7, 2019.
9. "Saskatchewan Lt.-Gov. William Thomas Molloy dies of pancreatic cancer at age 78". The Canadian Press. Times Colonist. July 2, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
10. Alexa Lawlor, "State memorial service held for Tom Molloy, Saskatchewan's 22nd lieutenant-governor", Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, July 14, 2019.
11. "Message from the Governor General Following the Passing of His Honour the Honourable W. Thomas Molloy, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan", Office of the Secretary to the Governor General, July 2, 2019.
12. The Governor General of Canada: Register of Arms, Flags and Badges: William Thomas Molloy.

Academic offices
Preceded by Peggy McKercher	Chancellor of the University of Saskatchewan 2001–2007	Succeeded by Dr Vera Pezer