Former University of Lethbridge Board of Governors Chair Dean Gallimore (BMgt ’84) was in his element as a key decision-maker for his alma mater. Overseeing major initiatives such as the establishment of the Southern Alberta Medical Program and the launch of the new ULethbridge Strategic Plan, Gallimore’s untimely passing shocked and saddened the University community. At Spring 2026 Convocation, the University of Lethbridge will award Gallimore with its first posthumous honorary degree.
“Those who worked with Dean understood how committed he was to post-secondary education, enhancing student life and effecting long-lasting change in his community,” says ULethbridge Chancellor Terry Whitehead (BA ’94). “There’s still a great sense of loss felt on campus and Dean is sorely missed. When we talked about honouring his legacy and that of his family, we were unanimous in supporting the award of a posthumous honorary degree.”
Dean Gallimore will be recognized at a private ceremony during Spring 2026 Convocation, May 28-29.
Dean Gallimore
When Dean Gallimore (BMgt ’84) was appointed Chair of the University of Lethbridge Board of Governors in 2022, it marked a full-circle moment that embodied his longstanding commitment to the school that was the launching point for both professional and personal success. Tragically, his untimely passing in April 2025 prevented Gallimore from continuing to add to his already impressive legacy.
An alumnus of the Faculty of Management (now Dhillon School of Business), he was born in Edmonton and raised in Lethbridge, attending Winston Churchill High School before beginning a family legacy by attending ULethbridge. Both he and his wife Bev (BA ’85, BMgt ’87) graduated from ULethbridge and their daughters, Lauren (BMgt ’15) and Amanda (BSc/BEd ’19), followed in their footsteps as alums.
Gallimore’s professional achievements were many and his financial acumen was only rivalled by his ability to cultivate positive relationships. He spent 28 years with local accounting firm KPMG, the final 12 years as the office managing partner before retiring in 2012.
Deeply respected by his peers, Gallimore received the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta Distinguished Service Award (2001) and was honoured as a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta (2008). In 2009, he was named to the University’s Alumni Honour Society.
Education was extremely important to Gallimore, and he was eager to give back to the University through volunteer work and as a philanthropist, crediting his time as a student as the starting point of his professional success. He first served as a member of the Board of Governors in 2019 and was appointed ULethbridge’s 11th Board Chair in 2022.
He made students a central focus during his time as Board Chair, advocating for student priorities and ensuring student representatives on the Board were heard. As Chair, he was involved in several major initiatives, including crucial work on the Budget Advisory Committee as the University continued to navigate its substantial budget challenges.
With Gallimore as Board Chair, ULethbridge launched a major fundraising campaign — matched by the Board of Governors — to establish new endowed student scholarships. The Southern Alberta Medical Program (SAMP) was also realized, and in March 2025, Gallimore was excited to help launch the ULethbridge Strategic Plan.
In 2023, the family established the Gallimore Family Scholarship, an endowed scholarship in support of outstanding students pursuing undergraduate education in the management field. Upon his passing, and due to his personal passion and involvement in the establishment of SAMP and the outstanding care he received from the medical team at Foothills Hospital, the Dean Gallimore Memorial endowed scholarship was created to support students pursuing medical training at the University of Lethbridge.