Jon Cornish, Chancellor (they/them)

Community leader and Canadian Football Hall of Famer Jon Cornish was elected the 15th chancellor of the University of Calgary, effective July 1, 2022.

Cornish is most known for their legendary nine years as a member of the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League where they were selected as the top Canadian player for three years consecutively, Most Outstanding Player in 2013, only the second football player to win the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s top athlete, and led their team to two Grey Cup championships. In recognition of their Kansas University football career, where they still hold numerous records, the Jon Cornish Trophy is awarded annually to the best Canadian NCAA Football player.

During and after their football career, Cornish spent the last nine years in various wealth management roles, working as a consultant and was a part of a top-ranked private investment counsel wealth team. They are now an investment advisor and team lead at RBC Dominion Securities, where they are responsible for building relationships, providing wealth management guidance, and holistic, goal-oriented financial planning so their clients can realize their best lives.

Cornish works with various non-profits and charities around Calgary, including many events as an emcee for the Alberta Children's Hospital, working directly with at-risk youth for Wood's Homes, and at the Calgary Foundation, where they serve on the Doc Seaman Hockey Fund. They also continue to work with the Calgary Stampeders as gameday ambassador. Cornish is president emeritus and founder of the Calgary Black Chambers, a non-profit working to make Calgary the best place to live and work for BIPOC people. The Calgary Black Chambers provided over $120,000 in scholarships to help university students and supported hundreds high school students with skill training to aid in their careers and life journeys over the last three years.

Jon Cornish

Lorraine Hjalte for the University of Calgary