$1.3 MILLION DONATION TO MIGS FOR PREVENTION PROJECT
By Barbara Black

Concordia Journal
March 20 2008
Canada

Alumnus James M. Stanford has given $1.3 million to a Concordia-based
project aimed at preventing genocide.

The gift from the Calgary businessman will fund the Will to Intervene
(W2I) project developed by the Montreal Institute for Genocide and
Human Rights Studies (MIGS), based at Concordia.

W2I takes aim at politicians, business leaders and those who direct
non-government organizations to exert pressure on decision-makers. It
is the inspiration of MIGS senior fellow Senator Romeo Dallaire,
the much-decorated retired army officer who turned his shattering
disappointment with United Nations forces in Rwanda into a fierce
drive to build world peace.

With the announcement of his gift, Stanford said, "The important work
by MIGS and the W2I program on genocide education and prevention has
never been more compelling and relevant. The involvement of Lt.-Gen.

Dallaire (ret.), our country’s foremost peace ambassador, is a
testament to the calibre, integrity and significance of these
initiatives."

Stanford is president of Stanford Resource Management Inc. He is
the retired president, chief executive officer and a director of
Petro-Canada, and chairman of the board of OPTI Canada Inc. and NOVA
Chemicals Corporation.

He earned a BSc in mining engineering from Loyola College in 1958,
and another BSc, in petroleum engineering, from the University of
Alberta. In recognition of his career, the U of A and Concordia have
both awarded him honorary doctorates, and he was made an Officer of the
Order of Canada. Sen. Dallaire was awarded the Loyola Medal in 2006.

MIGS was established in 1986 to uncover the underlying reasons
for genocide and other crimes against humanity and make policy
recommendations on how to resolve conflicts before they become mass
atrocities.

History professor Frank Chalk, who is the Institute’s founder and
director, said, "Throughout the years, our Institute has had a positive
impact on genocide prevention, early warning and accountability
for war crimes around the world. Our graduates are making meaningful
contributions to government agencies, regional security organizations,
NGOs and educational institutions.

"From the Armenian genocide to the Holocaust, from Cambodia to Rwanda
and Darfur, MIGS stands in the front ranks of respected research
centres, and is consulted whenever issues related to genocide and
crimes against humanity arise. This generous gift will make it possible
for us to strengthen and further our mission."

Chalk heads to London, Madrid and Kigali in March and April for
consultations on the situation in Darfur, the activities of hate media,
and the development of new forms of evidence to document genocide
before domestic and international courts.

Kathy Assayag, Vice-President, Advancement and Alumni Relations,
was especially pleased with the generous gift, which signals a great
lead-up to the university’s major fundraising campaign.

"We are grateful to alumni like James M. Stanford, who continue to
support their alma mater and higher education in general," she said.