Remembering Alan Cairns

Alan Cairns, an adjunct professor in the Department of Political Science at Waterloo, passed away August 27 at the age of 88. A professor emeritus from the University of British Columbia, Cairns is best known for his contributions to scholarship on federalism and constitutional issues, as well as a deep interest in Indigenous issues. As a member of the Hawthorn Commission in the 1960s, he advocated for more autonomy for Indigenous peoples including the "citizens plus" status which First Nations used to oppose the federal government’s assimilation policies.  

A widely published and cited scholar, Cairns earned a number of accolades in his career, including four honorary degrees, the Molson Prize of the Canada Council and a Killiam award. He was also a member of the Royal Society of Canada and an Officer of the Order of Canada. 

Cairns joined the Department of Political Science in 2000, and remained an active guest lecturer in upper year seminars, an examiner for MA defences, and a professor who consulted widely with students at all levels about their papers and projects.

Cairns is being commemorated not just as a leader in Canadian political thought, but for his unfailing kindness and mentorship of others. In a tribute to Alan Cairns, his colleague Emmett MacFarlane remembers him for his “infinite well of generosity and interest in supporting younger colleagues and students.”