Ivan Head | The Canadian Encyclopedia

Article

Ivan Head

Ivan Leigh Head, public servant (b at Calgary, Alta 28 July 1930). A law graduate of U of A, Head taught law there 1963-67 after stints in private practice and the Dept of External Affairs. In 1967 he served as a constitutional adviser to P.E.

Head, Ivan Leigh

Ivan Leigh Head, public servant (b at Calgary, Alta 28 July 1930). A law graduate of U of A, Head taught law there 1963-67 after stints in private practice and the Dept of External Affairs. In 1967 he served as a constitutional adviser to P.E. TRUDEAU, staying on as special assistant after Trudeau became PM the next year. Combative, strong-willed and idealistic, Head quickly became one of the PM's inner circle, and his key external affairs functionary.

Head was a strong force behind Trudeau's call for a "north-south dialogue" to aid developing countries. In 1978 he became president and governor of the INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH CENTRE. He accepted numerous board and executive committee appointments including: Inter-American Dialogue (1985-), The International Ocean Institute, Malta (1992-), The Salzburg Seminar (1992-), The Canadian Institute of International Affairs (1993-) and The National Defence College (1993-). Head was made an officer in the Order of Canada (1990). He is the author of On a Hinge of History (1991), co-author of The Canadian Way (1995), and has been a professor of law and political science at the U of BC since 1991.

Challenge yourself - take the CC Quiz!

The Canadian Encyclopedia is a project of Historica Canada, a non-profit, nonpartisan organization devoted to teaching Canadians more about our shared country.  We also produce the Heritage Minutes and other programs. If you believe all Canadians should have access to free, impartial, fact-checked, regularly updated information about Canada’s history and culture in both official languages, please consider donating today. All donations above $3 will receive a tax receipt.

Book a Speaker