USask to celebrate alumnus Tim Gitzel with honorary degree during Fall Convocation

The University of Saskatchewan (USask) will recognize the accomplishments of a celebrated Canadian and international leader in the nuclear energy sector during Fall Convocation.

USask alumnus Tim Gitzel (BA’86, JD’90), chief executive officer (CEO) of Cameco Corporation, a global nuclear fuel and energy company, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree on Nov. 10, 2026.

Dr. Vince Bruni-Bossio (PhD), USask’s president and vice-chancellor, said Gitzel is an inspirational example of how USask alumni are making a difference at home and around the globe. In addition to his contributions to the nuclear energy sector, Gitzel is highly regarded for his philanthropic and community involvement in Saskatchewan.

“It is wonderful to have the opportunity to honour the achievements of an outstanding USask alumnus, Mr. Tim Gitzel, during Fall Convocation,” said Bruni-Bossio.

“Mr. Gitzel has more than 30 years of senior management experience in the Canadian and international nuclear energy sector. He is a true leader in his field who has made a remarkable impact around the world while remaining connected to his Saskatchewan roots through his many charitable and non-profit endeavours.

“At USask, we are grateful for Mr. Gitzel’s ongoing support of his alma mater, including his previous service as a member of the College of Law and Edwards School of Business Dean’s Advisory Councils. We are also grateful for the support that Mr. Gitzel and his family have continued to provide to our USask students through the establishment of the Gitzel Family Fund for Mental Health. On behalf of the USask community, I thank Mr. Tim Gitzel for his many contributions to our university and far beyond, and I offer him our heartfelt congratulations as he receives the Honorary Doctor of Laws degree.”

An honorary degree is the highest honour the university can bestow.

“I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition from the University of Saskatchewan, a place that is incredibly meaningful to my family,” said Gitzel. “I, along with my wife Bonnie and our children Ty and Bailey, are all graduates of USask. It is the place that fostered our curiosity, challenged our viewpoints, introduced us to lifelong friends, and laid the foundation to help us realize our dreams. Throughout my career, as I’ve travelled the world and met with leaders and decision-makers, I have always been proud to be a USask graduate.” 

Gitzel is Cameco’s current CEO. He previously served as Cameco’s president and CEO from July 2011 to August 2025, as president from 2010 to 2011, and as senior vice-president and chief operating officer prior to that. Before joining Cameco, he served as executive vice-president, mining business unit for Orano in Paris, France, where he was responsible for global uranium, gold, exploration, and decommissioning operations in 11 countries.

Prior to his full-time work in the uranium industry, Gitzel studied at USask’s College of Arts and Science, earning a Bachelor of Arts (honours) degree in political studies in 1986. From there, Gitzel embarked on a year of French immersion in Laval, Quebec, before returning to USask, where he studied at the College of Law and received his Juris Doctor degree in 1990.

As a student, Gitzel worked for two summers in France with Areva (now Orano). After graduating from law, he worked for a local law firm before joining Areva in Saskatoon, eventually moving to the company’s Paris office to head up its worldwide mining operations. Gitzel and his family moved back to Saskatoon from France in 2007, when he joined Cameco as its chief operating officer.

The members of the Gitzel family are all USask alumni who are committed to giving back to USask; thanks to their generous gift of $1 million to establish the Gitzel Family Fund for Mental Health in 2023, as part of USask’s historic Be What the World Needs Campaign, USask can respond to current student needs and ensure additional supports are available. 

In 2025, in his role as Cameco’s president and CEO, Gitzel also announced a transformational $10-million gift from Cameco, also as part of the Be What the World Needs Campaign. The funding will support an undergraduate Nuclear Fuel Cycle program that will bring together geology, geophysics, and engineering, as well as a graduate Certificate in Energy and Resource Management that will convene USask students from across policy studies, law, sustainability, and business. This gift will also foster northern and Indigenous students’ interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, starting from the earliest learners through the Science Ambassador program and the Cameco STEM Pathways Initiative at the USask Prince Albert Campus. 

Today, Gitzel serves the nuclear industry in many capacities, including leadership positions as a board member of the World Nuclear Association and the Nuclear Energy Institute and, since 2023, as a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Standing Advisory Group on Nuclear Energy. He has served as chair of The Mosaic Company’s compensation and human resources committee for six years and is a member of its corporate governance and nominating committee. He is also a member of the Business Council of Canada and a member of the CEO advisory council of the Canada-India Business Council, as well as a co-chair of the Kazakhstan-Canada Business Council.

Gitzel is past president of the Saskatchewan Mining Association, and he has served on the boards of SaskEnergy Corporation, the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce, and Junior Achievement of Saskatchewan. Some of Gitzel’s volunteer affiliations have included serving as honorary chair of the Cameco Cares Concert Series, co-chair of the Telus Cup West Regional Championship, co-chair of the World Junior Hockey Championships Mastercard Memorial Cup, and co-sponsor of the Cameco Touchdown for Dreams Campaign. Gitzel also served as the co-chair of the Royal Care campaign, raising funds for Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, and as vice-president, communications for the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championships. In 2007, he was named one of the 100 Alumni of Influence at the University of Saskatchewan, and he is a recipient of the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal and of both the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond and Platinum Jubilee Medals.

About USask honorary degrees:
An honorary degree is the university’s most prestigious award, acknowledging worthy and unique contributions recipients have made to their community and to the world. USask recognizes individuals who have outstanding accomplishments in research, scholarly, and artistic works; performed exceptional public service; contributed greatly through their professional or philanthropic activity; and demonstrated extraordinary athletic prowess. To view past recipients, visit: https://library.usask.ca/uasc/campus-history-databases/honorary-degrees

For more on Fall Convocation, visit: https://students.usask.ca/academics/graduation.php