Agnes McCausland Benidickson (''

née The birth name is the name of the person given upon their birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name or to the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a births registe ...

'' Richardson; August 19, 1920 – March 23, 2007) was the first female chancellor of Queen's University at

Kingston, Ontario Kingston is a city in Ontario, Canada, on the northeastern end of Lake Ontario. It is at the beginning of the St. Lawrence River and at the mouth of the Cataraqui River, the south end of the Rideau Canal. Kingston is near the Thousand Islands, ...

, Canada, from 1980 to 1996. Queen's highest honour for student service to the University, is named in her honour. Recipients of the Agnes Benidickson Tricolour Award are awarded admission into the Agnes Benidickson Tricolour Society.

Personal life

Born in Chaffeys Locks, Ontario, Agnes McCausland Richardson was the daughter of the former Queen's Chancellor

James Armstrong Richardson Sr. James Armstrong Richardson Sr. (August 21, 1885 – June 26, 1939) was an influential business person in Canada in both business and aviation during the early part of the 20th century. He lived most of his life in Winnipeg. Early life James ...

, who served from 1929 to 1939. She was named after her aunt Agnes McCausland Richardson Etherington (1880–1954). She was raised in

Winnipeg Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...

, and received her B.A. degree from Queen's in 1941, and an

LL.D. A Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) is a doctoral degree in legal studies. The abbreviation LL.D. stands for ''Legum Doctor'', with the double “L” in the abbreviation referring to the early practice in the University of Cambridge to teach both canon law ...

degree in 1979. She is the sister of the Honourable James A. Richardson Jr., who was a Trudeau-era Liberal member of the Canadian Parliament and cabinet minister. In 1947, she married William Moore Benidickson (1911–1985), who was a Liberal MP and later became a Cabinet minister and

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or Legislative chamber, chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the Ancient Rome, ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior ...

. She was made an Officer of the

Order of Canada The Order of Canada () is a Canadian state order, national order and the second-highest Award, honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the Canadian Centennial, ce ...

in 1987, and promoted to a Companion in 1998. In 1987, she received an honorary Doctors of Law degree from the

University of British Columbia The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a Public university, public research university with campuses near University of British Columbia Vancouver, Vancouver and University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, in British Columbia, Canada ...

. In 1991, she was awarded the

Order of Ontario The Order of Ontario is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the Advice (constitutional), advice of the Executive Council ...

. She died on March 23, 2007, at her home in Ottawa. From her obituary:

Agnes lived a life enriched by her family, her travels, her experiences and above all by her service to community and country through a host of organizations which she founded, helped to lead and sustain through her tireless volunteer efforts. Her life and her example will continue to be celebrated by her children, Jamie, Kris and Kathleen, their partners Melanie Mallet, Shirley Benidickson, and Alex Ramsay, daughter-in-law Victoria Young-Benidickson, granddaughters Nicola Benidickson, Kirsten Benidickson, Martha and Leigh Ramsay, her extended family, and all who were touched by the commitment, insight, grace and generosity which were the hallmarks of her life.

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Benidickson, Agnes 1920 births 2007 deaths Companions of the Order of Canada Members of the Order of Ontario Chancellors of Queen's University at Kingston Queen's University at Kingston alumni James Richardson & Sons Richardson family