Before she died, Shelagh Rogers’ grandmother, Dorothy Shannon Sutherland, urged her to attend Queen’s University. Honouring her grandmother’s dying wish, Rogers, ArtSci ’77, packed up her room in Ottawa and moved to Kingston for her undergraduate degree.
The award-winning broadcast journalist returns to Queen’s campus as the new Chancellor—the ceremonial leader and highest officer of the University. She assumed the role on July 1, succeeding her predecessor, Murray Sinclair.
Having been the Chancellor of the University of Victoria from 2015 to 2021, Rogers is familiar with overseeing convocation and conferring degrees.
“I have a responsibility to act on what I’ve learned and share what I’ve learned in the past,” Rogers said in the interview with The Journal. “I want to get to know all the faculties at Queen’s, know what their concerns are, and make Queen’s the most welcoming place for everybody.”
Fifty years ago, Rogers walked the corridors of Queen’s historic buildings as a student in the Department of Art History. She formed lifelong friendships with Christopher Broadhurst, BFA ’77, and Wendy Robbins, whom she met in a first-year history class.
While attending Professor Kathleen Moran’s art history lectures, she dreamed of restoring the Sistine Chapel in Italy. To prepare for her potential journey across the Atlantic, Rogers took an Italian class with Professor Diego Bastianutti.
Rogers, however, sidelined her dream to volunteer in Rome after starting work at CFRC-FM Radio, the University’s station. Rogers worked closely with her manager Steve Cutway, ArtSci ’72, assistant station manager Gail Glode, ArtSci ’73, David Cunningham, ArtSci ’72.
“The CFRC was where I fell in love with radio, broadcasting, and journalism. I feel I owe Queen’s a great debt of gratitude for still being host to CFRC. [Broadcast journalism] is what ended up being my career,” Rogers said.
Rogers went on to host several CBC radio shows, including This Morning and The Next Chapter. She received the Order of Canada in 2011 for her work promoting Canadian culture, mental health, and truth and reconciliation.
While on air, Rogers had poignant conversations with guests, such as Kate Carmichael. Diagnosed with a terminal illness and given two months to live, Carmichael’s dying wish was to positively impact her community in Halifax, Rogers explained.
In 2008, Rogers interviewed Alberni Residential School Survivor, John Jones, his daughter Lillian, and Lillian’s daughter Victoria. Seated at a dining room table, Rogers listened to the family recount their generational trauma. The conversation changed her.
“When you’re hearing stories that are painful, that involve trauma, the best thing you can do—and I had to learn this again and again—is to shut up and listen,” Rogers said. “Those conversations changed me. These conversations with John, Lillian, and Victora were very important to me.”
Rogers continued to amplify Indigenous voices on her award-winning radio show The Next Chapter. She shared stories not just of Indigenous trauma, but of brilliance, of imagination. Continuing her activism, she became an honorary witness for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada in 2011. Rogers publicly discussed what she witnessed at TRC events, affirming her commitment to Indigenous advocacy inside and outside the radio station.
Rogers recently learned Indigeneity is not just a passion, but a fundamental aspect of her identity. She’s a member of the Métis Nation of Greater Victoria and cousins with her friend and the University’s former Chancellor, Murray Sinclair.
“I want to build on the mold that Murray Sinclair made, and not be afraid to advocate for change,” Rogers said. “In my time as Chancellor, I really hope to engage in Truth and Reconciliation, elements of my life that are very important to me.”
As well as Truth and Reconciliation, Rogers wants to discuss mental health. She intimately understands the importance of mental health care, experiencing depression as a Queen’s student and young professional.
Rogers openly shared her mental health struggles while speaking at a women’s gathering in Newfoundland in 2003. Few people discussed mental health back then, but things have evolved in a beautiful way, Rogers explained. She plans to leverage this positive shift on campus.
“I think a university is a great place for those conversations and research about what is behind mental health challenges,” Rogers said.
Whether it be mental health or Truth and Reconciliation, Rogers looks forward to engaging in these conversations with members of the Queen’s community.
As Rogers has done many times in the past, she’s prepared to listen to students, staff, and faculty’s stories.
Corrections
A previous version of this of this story incorrectly reported Rogers had received the Order of Canada due to her work at CBC. In fact, Rogers received the Order of Canada for her work promoting Canadian culture, mental health, and truth and reconciliation.
The Journal regrets the error
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CFRC, chancellor, Shelagh Rogers
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