Add StudioX as a preferred source on GoogleFormer B.C. labour minister and longtime Surrey-Newton MLA Harry Bains has been appointed the next Chancellor of Kwantlen Polytechnic University, the university announced October 28.
Bains served as MLA for Surrey-Newton for 19 years and took over as KPU’s ceremonial head this month. The chancellor presides over convocation, where the university confers credentials on graduates.
A long connection to Surrey and KPU
Bains has a longstanding relationship with the university. KPU said he served six years on its Board of Governors during the 1990s, including three years as vice-chair. He continued attending convocation and campus events after leaving provincial politics.
He was elected in Surrey-Newton in 2005 and served as B.C. Minister of Labour after the NDP formed a minority government in 2017. His ministerial record included changes to minimum-wage policy, paid sick leave and workplace protections.
What the chancellor does
The chancellor is the university’s ceremonial head and presides over convocation ceremonies. The role is distinct from the president and vice-chancellor, who leads the institution’s administration and academic operations.
KPU said Bains received an honorary Doctor of Laws from the university in 2025. He becomes its fourth chancellor since it became a polytechnic university in 2008, succeeding Kwuntiltunaat Kim Baird.
Bains’ response
In the university’s announcement, Bains said he was excited to serve an institution he respects and praised KPU’s role in preparing future leaders and contributors to British Columbia.
Source: Kwantlen Polytechnic University — October 28, 2026.
Harnaik Singh Rathor is the Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of StudioX News Canada, Canada's multilingual digital news network serving multilingual diaspora communities across Canada. With a background in media production, public relations, and multicultural communications, he founded StudioX Film and TV Corporation to bridge the gap between mainstream Canadian media and the country's diverse immigrant communities. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), RTDNA Canada, CPRS Vancouver, NEPMCC, and the Canadian Freelance Union (Unifor). Based in Surrey, British Columbia. | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harnaiksinghrathor/ | Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/harnaiksinghrathor | Email: editor@studioxnews.ca
