The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Vic Catano, who passed away on May 10, 2019. As a leading academic staff association activist, he contributed enormously to advancing college and university workplace rights. His loss will be keenly felt; his legacy will continue.

Honoured in 2009 with CAUT’s Donald C. Savage Award, Vic’s work as a chief negotiator on the Saint Mary’s University collective agreement set a standard that associations across the country, big and small, continue to incorporate and build on. Again and again, CAUT has turned to that language for use in its model clauses and bargaining advisories.

As a leader, he dedicated time and energy to serving as President of CAUT, President of Saint Mary's University Faculty Union, and countless other committee positions.

Dr. Catano was a Professor of Psychology at Saint Mary’s University. Over time he also served as a Special Lecturer at the Technical University of Nova Scotia, an Adjunct Professor at Dalhousie University, a Visiting Research Fellow at the Canadian Forces Personnel Applied Research Unit, President of the Association of Psychologists of Nova Scotia, President of the Canadian Society of Industrial / Organizational Psychology, and Chair of the Canadian Council of Human Resources Associations’ Independent Board of Examiners.

Beyond these specific achievements, Vic also leaves a record of personal warmth, compassion, and deep commitment to the cause of workplace justice. Our responsibility to his legacy is to continue his work.