A former Edam resident who went on to a distinguished career in the public service across Canada has been given an honorary degree from the University of Saskatchewan.
Wayne Wouters received the Honorary Doctor of Laws degrees during the university's Spring Convocation held this month in Saskatoon.
Wouters was born in Edam and spent his youth there, residing at the family farm outside the community. After completing Grade 12, he moved to Saskatoon and earned a Bachelor of Commerce (economics) from the University of Saskatchewan before earning a master's degree in economics at Queen's University.
He started his career as a lecturer in the economics department at the U of S in 1975.
He began his career in the public sector in 1977, holding several positions in the Government of Saskatchewan. He eventually rose to the position of director, Energy Policy Branch, Department of Mineral Resources (Saskatchewan).
He joined the federal public service in 1982 with Department of Energy, Mines and Resources as the director of Industry Analysis.
He became deputy director general, Project and Fiscal Analysis in 1986, and later director General, Financial and Market Analysis. He then joined the Department of Finance as director, Economic Development Policy Branch, later becoming general director in 1993.
He joined the Privy Council Office in 1994, and for eight months headed up a federal Task Force on the Newfoundland Economy. After that wrapped up in September he became assistant secretary to the cabinet (program review), overseeing preparation of the expenditure reduction plan heading to the 1995 federal Budget. Wouters was appointed deputy secretary to the cabinet (plans and consultation) in December 1994.
In September 1997 Wouters left the Privy Council Office to become deputy minister of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. He later served as deputy minister of Human Resources Development Canada and, in December 2003, deputy minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.
From December 2004 to June 30, 2009 he served as secretary of the Treasury Board.
Wouters was appointed clerk of the privy council and secretary to the cabinet by Prime Minister Stephen Harper on July 1, 2009.
In an interview with the News-Optimist in 2009, Wouters had good things to say about his upbringing, saying the Edam area had people with great values, inspiring him to public service.
"I always saw people prepared to help out their neighbour, and you learn a lot about people and in some ways service to the public by growing up in small communities like my home town Edam," Wouters said.
"No matter where I live in Canada or in the world, that's where I'm from - I'm from Saskatchewan and I'm from Edam, Saskatchewan."
