Peter McCreath

Peter L. McCreath

Doctor of Civil Law

The Honourable Peter L. McCreath, P.C., B.A.(Hon)(Toronto), M.A.(Dalhousie), B.Ed., M.A.(Ed)(Saint Mary's), F.R.S.A. was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He has experienced a diverse career, including service as a naval officer, high school and university teacher, author, television broadcaster, journalist, public affairs executive and consultant, and small business operator. For a decade, he served as a member of the professional staff of the Nova Scotia Teachers' Union.

In 1988, Peter was elected to the House of Commons of Canada for the rural Nova Scotian constituency of South Shore. During five years in Parliament, he served successively as Parliamentary Secretary in the Departments of Finance, Industry and International Trade, then as Minister of Veterans Affairs in Canada's cabinet and as a Member of Treasury Board. While in Parliament, Mr. McCreath was responsible for shepherding over 30 pieces of financial legislation through Parliament including the very important NAFTA legislation.

Following his time in Parliament, Peter served five years as Director of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs for the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in Atlantic Canada, and for the past four years has been a corporate communications and public affairs consultant. Through his company, PMC Communications Inc. he has served clients in such diverse sectors as financial services, transportation, tourism, telecommunications, home care, steel and marine fabrication and repair, the government of St. Kitts and Nevis, and film and television production.

Peter McCreath has served on the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission, the Canadian Multiculturalism Council, the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission, as Chairman of the Board of the Canada Studies Foundation, as President of the Canadian Council for Multicultural and Intercultural Education, as an member of the Board of the University of Kings College, the Pier 21 Society, the Confederation Centre for the Arts and the VisionTV Foundation. He is the author or editor of several books on Canadian history, politics, multiculturalism, and human rights. His most recent books include The Life and Times of Alexander Keith(2002) and Canadian History: Voices and Visions (co-author, 2003). Other books including: The Peoples? Choice, Discovering Canada, A History of Early Nova Scotia, Multiculturalism: A Handbook for Teachers, Regional Perspectives on Grain Transportation in Canada. Peter has also Co-produced several television documentaries including: A Moving House Adventure, Float your Boat and is currently working on two feature films, one on the role of Canadian Corvettes in the Battle of the Atlantic, and a history of the schooner.

Peter McCreath has participated in international development missions in Bangladesh, Thailand and Sri Lanka. During 2002, he completed a 5-month communications contract in Barbados. He has advised or partnered in businesses involved in import/export, lumber and fish in Trinidad, St. Lucia, Barbados and South America.

Peter McCreath currently serves on the board of Friends of the Family Estate Services Inc., on the Board of the Manning School of Business at Acadia University, and the Transportation Committee of the Metro Halifax Chamber of Commerce, and as a member of the Canadian Association of Liquor Jurisdictions.

In March, 2000, Peter McCreath was appointed by Queen Beatrix as Honorary Consul for the Kingdom of the Netherlands at Halifax. He also Chairs the Strategic Planning Committee of the NS-PEI Diocese of the Anglican Church of Canada and has been named a ?Champion? on behalf of the Canadian Mental Health Association in Nova Scotia, and the national board of the Primate?s World Relief and Development Fund.

During the course of his career, Peter McCreath has organized and led a number of major projects and initiatives, including projects of the Canada Studies Foundation, the Canadian Multiculturalism Council, and the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission. As a member of Parliament he chaired a major national study of Canada?s Defence Production Industry and as Minister of Veterans Affairs achieved funding for the 50th Anniversary ?Canada Remembers? program, lead international trade and fisheries delegations for the Department of Foreign Affairs and served as an international human rights observer.

In December, 2001, Peter McCreath was appointed by the Government of Nova Scotia to serve as the first private sector Chairman of the newly created Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation, a provincial crown corporation which replaced Nova Scotia?s former beverage alcohol distribution agency. Now, nearing the completion of his five year mandate, McCreath has led the transformation of the NSLC to become one of Atlantic Canada?s most efficient, modern retailers. In recognition of his work overhauling the NSLC, Peter McCreath has been invited to be a featured speaker at prestigious Conference Board of Canada and Federated Press annual crown corporation governance conferences for the past 3 years.

Peter McCreath was awarded one of the first Citation for Citizenship Awards by the Government of Canada in 1988, was presented with the Canada 125 Medal in 1992, was appointed a member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada in 1993, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 1996, and awarded the Queen?s Jubilee Medal in 2002. In 2005, he was elected to the ?Hall of Distinction? of Etobicoke Collegiate Institute in Etobicoke where he attended secondary school.

Peter McCreath lives in Hubbards, Nova Scotia, with his wife Judy. He has two sons. He is an avid sailor, snorkler, woodsman and grape grower.