After 26 years of service, Riley Coulter is retiring from his role as chancellor of Ambrose University.

President Gordon T. Smith underscored the significance of Coulter’s role.

“If it weren’t for Riley’s superb and skillful leadership, there would be no Ambrose University today," he said.

Coulter’s connection with Ambrose goes back to the years before the university was established. He began his career as a pastor in the Church of the Nazarene — one of Ambrose’s founding denominations — serving congregations in Chilliwack, British Columbia; Regina, Saskatchewan; and Victoria, British Columbia.

In 1990, he became president of Canadian Nazarene College. During his 18 years as president, the institution changed its name to Nazarene University College.

While president, Coulter led the college through a series of decisions that helped the institution to thrive and adapt: he supervised the sale of the CNC college campus in Winnipeg; the moving of faculty, staff, and students to Calgary; the developing of Liberal Arts degree programs accredited by the province of Alberta (a first for CNC); the securing of provincial funding for these programs; and the partnering and merging of Nazarene University College with Alliance University College to create Ambrose University College – now Ambrose University.

Coulter has served as chancellor since 2008 when the new campus was established. 

The early years of cooperation between the Church of the Nazarene and The Christian and Missionary Alliance were critical for Ambrose. Previously independent faculties and leaders were learning to work together for the benefit of both denominations. Coulter’s leadership and his skills in looking to the future and building consensus were invaluable.

When the Ambrose University Board of Governors hosted a luncheon in Coulter’s honour in April, Alex Baum, former chair of the CMA Board of Governors, offered a tribute highlighting Coulter’s commitment to partnership.

Baum read from Matthew 5:9 in The Message.

“'You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family,'” he read. “Riley, you are a peacemaker and you are blessed.”

Campus Chaplain Terry Fach, who has served on faculty with Coulter since the CUC days, also offered a tribute.

"Riley, thank you for leading us with grace and wisdom and courage," he said. "Thank you for loving and caring about Nazarene churches and pastors and congregations and doing whatever you could do to see them flourish. Thank you for serving the cause of Nazarene higher education in Canada. And thank you for your legacy and example of servant leadership for the sake of Christ and the Kingdom.”

While Coulter is retiring as chancellor, his legacy will continue in the lives of the faculty, staff, and students whom he has inspired and shaped.

“We are so grateful for the leadership that Coulter gave that led to the formation of Ambrose University, and we wish him well in his future endeavours," Smith said.

--Ambrose University