2013 Prime of Life Achievement Award

Dr. Scharf has a long history of service to the teaching profession and to the public education system in Saskatchewan, and much of its public policy on education has been influenced by his work. As the Dean of the College of Education for ten years, he mentored the faculty’s special focus on rural education resulting in the creation of the Congress on Rural Education, an annual gathering of educators and community leaders from across Canada.

His interests in governance, finance and rural education found expression in his teaching and educational leadership development activities. A founder of Saskatchewan Educational Leadership Unit, he helped bringing innovative ideas to institutions and agencies in Canada and around the world. His work on school finance and governance is reflected in the restructuring of provincial school divisions.

Murray’s many honours include: U of S Award for Distinction in Extension and Public Service, the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation Medal for work in rural education, the SCEA’s Administrator of the Decade Award and an honorary life membership in the International Congress on Education for Teaching, an UNESCO affiliated organization. In 2013, he was honoured with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for services to education and the community.