Kelvin Kenneth Ogilvie, C.M., Ph.D., D.Sc., H.Col., F.C.I.C.

Senator, distinguished scientist, teacher, researcher and university administrator, of Bigelow Cove, Kings County, passed away quietly and surrounded by family on July 15, 2025 at the age of 82. He was the son of the late Carl and Mabel (Wile) Ogilvie. He is survived by his beloved wife and companion, Roleen (Lockhart), of 61 years; daughter Kristine Pick (LeRoy), New Minas, NS; son Kevin Alexander (Caitlyn Steele), Gales Ferry, CT (USA); and five wonderful grandchildren, Kayanna, Kassandra (Mathew Hazlett) and Kathleen Pick; Alexandra and Koen Ogilvie and great granddaughters Karla and Kosette Hazlett. He is also survived by his sisters Patricia (Dean) Corkum, Walbrook and Marilyn (Bernie) Thompson, ON. He was pre-deceased by his brother William.

A native of Hants County, Nova Scotia, Dr. Ogilvie received his early education in a two-room schoolhouse in Summerville. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1963 and Bachelor of Science (Honours in Chemistry) in 1964 from Acadia University. He graduated with a PhD in Chemistry from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois where he became fascinated with the central roles of DNA and RNA in all living systems. A university professor of chemistry for forty years, he began his career in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Manitoba in 1968, moved to McGill University in 1974 where in 1984 he was appointed Director, Office of Biotechnology, and Canadian Pacific Professor of Biotechnology. He held these positions until 1987, when he returned to Nova Scotia and Acadia University to serve as Vice-President (Academic) and Professor of Chemistry.

Dr. Ogilvie was appointed Vice-Chancellor and 13th President of Acadia University on July 1, 1993. He led the development and implementation of the acclaimed Acadia Advantage Program, which was recognized by, and incorporated into, the Permanent Collection of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC in 1999. The Acadia Advantage Program was recognized through the Pioneer Award of the Ubiquitous Computing Society in 2001 and by a Canadian Information Productivity Award (CIPA) in 1997. Acadia University adopted a visionary Campus Plan for the 21st Century on August 31, 2000, and launched a $75 million Residence Advantage Program in 2000. Acadia University was recognized as the best overall primarily undergraduate university for nine straight years in the Annual Maclean's Opinion Leaders survey. Dr. Ogilvie completed his ten-year tenure as President and Vice-Chancellor of Acadia University on August 31, 2003.

He was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 2009 by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. In the Senate, he served on several Standing Committees including Agriculture and Forestry, Scrutiny of Regulations, Rules, Procedures, and the Rights of Parliament. He was Chair of the Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology and led the Committee through several important studies leading to Reports on, among others, Canada’s 2004 Health Accord, Canada’s Pandemic Preparedness, and a five-part study on Prescription Pharmaceuticals that contributed to the first update of Canada’s laws on prescription pharmaceuticals in more than 40 years. The committee reports calling for a national strategy on Obesity, Dementia and the role of Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and 3D Printing in Health Care received wide national attention. He was proud of his efforts to expand parliamentarians understanding of the key importance of research in contributing to social and economic value by hosting focused events bringing Canada’s leading research to kiosk events on the Hill. He was especially proud of being asked by the joint Houses of Parliament to co-chair the Joint Committee on Physician Assisted Dying and the report that was sent to Parliament leading to legislation benefiting Canadians.

He had a lifelong interest in sports and outdoor activities. He was a member of the Bridgewater High School curling team that captured the provincial championship in 1959. He raced his own team of Siberian huskies and in 1973 was freight racing champion of the southern Manitoba Dog Sled Association. An avid fisherman, his favorite was the striped bass. He loved the outdoors and particularly life on the Bay of Fundy and the Minas Basin.

Dr. Ogilvie was one of the world's leading experts on biotechnology, bio-organic chemistry, and genetic engineering. His scientific accomplishments include the development of the chemistry of the "Gene Machine," an automated process for the manufacture of DNA. He is the inventor of Ganciclovir, the first drug used around the world to fight Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections that occur when one's immune system is weakened. AIDS and transplant patients benefit from the drug, which has been tested to treat human brain tumors. Both achievements were recognized in 2000 as "Milestones of Canadian Chemistry in the 20th Century" by the Canadian Society of Chemistry. He also developed a general method for the chemical synthesis of large RNA molecules employing silyl protecting groups that is still the basis for RNA synthesis worldwide.

Dr. Ogilvie was a widely sought-after speaker both nationally and internationally with over 500 invited presentations. He had 14 primary patents and 150 publications in referenced scientific journals and his work has been recognized by others through more than 6400 citations.

Dr. Ogilvie's scientific and academic accomplishments were recognized by numerous awards and appointments. He was the recipient of honorary degrees from Acadia University, the University of New Brunswick, McGill University and Simon Fraser University. He was named an E.W.R. Steacie Fellow in 1982 and was admitted to the Order of Canada in 1991. In 1992, he received the Manning Principal Award valued at $100,000 as Canada's outstanding contributor to innovation. In 2002, Dr. Ogilvie was named an inaugural member of the Nova Scotia Discovery Centre Hall of Fame for Science and Technology. The Symposium on the Medicinal Chemistry of Nucleosides and Nucleotides at the 84th CSC Conference in Montreal (2001) was named in his honour. He was named in the 1988 MacLean's Honour Roll as a Canadian "Who Made a Difference". He was made an Honorary Colonel, Canadian Air Force in 1995 and a Knight of Malta, Order of Merit bestowed by the Sovereign Military Order of Saint John of Jerusalem,1985. He received the Buck-Whitney Medal of the Eastern New York Section of the American Chemical Society, 1983. He was inducted into the Canadian Science & Engineering Hall of Fame in 2011. In 2012 he received the Biomedical Science Ambassador Award, Partners in Research and the Rx&D Health Research Foundation Medal of Honour in 2013.

Kelvin wished to thank all the staff involved with his care over the last year including but not limited to; all his Doctors and Nurses, the staff at the VON, both nursing and homecare, the EHS paramedics, along with the staff at the Valley Regional Hospital, Valley Hospice, and palliative care.

There are plans for a celebration of his life to be held in the Garden Room of the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens located at Acadia University on August 17th from 2-4 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Kelvin K. Ogilvie scholarship fund at Acadia University.