Honouring Charlie Fischer
Gifts in memory of Charlie Fischer will be directed to the IMAGINE Citizens Collaborating for Health initiative at the O’Brien Institute for Public Health at UCalgary’s Cumming School of Medicine
The University of Calgary community was saddened to learn of Charlie Fischer’s passing on June 17, 2020. Charlie was a committed community leader in Calgary and a close friend and alumnus of UCalgary. Charlie graduated with a BSc in chemical engineering in 1971 and with an MBA in 1982. He was also awarded an honorary doctorate in 2004.
Charlie was widely recognized for his business leadership and success, as well as his unwavering dedication to the health and education sectors. Charlie served as the vice-chair of UCalgary’s Board of Governors for two full six-year terms, and more recently he served as a strategic advisor for the Cumming School of Medicine, the UCalgary Scholars Academy and for the Energize campaign. In 2019, Charlie was, along with his wife, Chancellor Emerita Joanne Cuthbertson, appointed as a member of the Order of Canada for his leadership, vision, community support and philanthropy. Among other community initiatives, Charlie also served as a chair of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation and was co-chair of the campaign that helped establish the new Alberta Children’s Hospital in 2006.
Charlie was also passionate about and co-founded a citizen-driven initiative, known as IMAGINE, that aims to improve the design and delivery of health care in Alberta. Its mission is to enable and mobilize citizens to influence and become valued partners in improving health-care experiences and outcomes for all Albertans. Charlie was instrumental in establishing IMAGINE and most recently he served as IMAGINE’s vice-chair; he truly believed that all people living in Alberta should have the opportunity to be respected partners in shaping the future of health care.
Together with Joanne, Charlie has been a generous advocate and supporter of the University of Calgary for many years. Our entire community expresses its condolences to Joanne, Kate and Lindsay and their families and we will fondly remember the incredible impact Charlie had on Calgary and beyond.