Whether it be fundraising, volunteering or simply offering his infectious smile as support, Knud Petersen consistently shows up for his community. The University of Lethbridge will recognize Petersen for his unique and enduring dedication to southern Alberta by awarding him an honorary degree at Spring 2026 Convocation.
“Knud Petersen is truly one-of-a-kind and if you’ve been to virtually any community event in the last 30-plus years, there’s a good chance Knud was there as a volunteer, leader or to simply provide support,” says ULethbridge Chancellor Terry Whitehead (BA ’94). “His commitment to Pronghorn Athletics, fine arts and the University of Lethbridge has touched every corner of campus, and beyond that, he has affected change and bettered society by being a community champion throughout our region who is respected by people across all political, cultural and socio-economic boundaries. We are excited to recognize his contributions.”
Petersen will be bestowed with an honorary Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, at Spring 2026 Convocation, Ceremony III, on Friday, May 29, 9 a.m. at the Co-op Centre for Sport & Wellness.
Knud Petersen
If an event takes place in southern Alberta and Knud Petersen isn’t there — did it really even happen? Such is the reputation of the man known affectionately as “Knuddie,” who is arguably the most present person at anything and everything that’s going on in his community. Petersen is an influential driver of community spirit, philanthropy and well-being.
Petersen arrived in Canada in 1965 as a Danish agricultural exchange student. He quickly liked the vibe and eventually fell in love with the open plains of southern Alberta to make Canada his new home. Utilizing his desire to farm and an enviable work ethic, he raised his family and worked the fields as a successful potato farmer partnering with the Perry family in the Chin area until his retirement in 1994. Petersen’s community interests then became his full-time passion and giving back to his adopted homeland his focus.
From sports to music and the arts, education, community advocacy, food security and the environment, Petersen is seemingly in the midst of everything — always looking to leave things in a better place than when he started.
Petersen’s support for post-secondary sport at both the University of Lethbridge and Lethbridge Polytechnic is legendary. He co-founded and then co-coached the Polytechnic’s Kodiaks women’s soccer program that went on to claim the CCAA national championship in 1994. He was a founding member of the Pronghorn Booster Club and Kodiaks Association and served as president of both organizations for several years. He’s coordinated and staffed casinos and worked multiple shifts as an organizer and driver for the Horns Operation Red Nose campaigns. He’s been recognized with the Pronghorn Athletics Gary Bowie Leadership Award, the ULethbridge Senate Volunteer Award and inducted into the Pronghorns Hall of Fame.
In the broader community, Petersen helped launch the Southern Oldtimers Football Association, has served on the board of directors for the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame, of which he’s been inducted, the Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs and Lethbridge Sport Council. He also played a major role in the establishment of Environment Lethbridge and continues to support the Lethbridge Food Bank and other charitable organizations.
Petersen’s generosity and selflessness are exemplified by his funding of multiple endowments for student scholarships. Petersen shows no signs of slowing down and is a current Link Pathway board member and in recent years earned recognition with the Stars of Alberta Volunteer Award, the Canadian Mental Health Association Volunteer Award and a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.