spring convocation Archives - News@91��ɫ

Brain injury survivor graduates at 91��ɫ U Spring 2023 convocation

suhasini — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 18:07:36 +0000

Teen drunk driving crash survivor Dean Wardak earns a professional writing degree, aims to author an inspirational autobiography of resilience and courage

TORONTO, June 23, 2023 –Dean Wardak was unsure about going back to school but then he joined 91��ɫ in 2018 at age 25. Five years later, he received a degree in professional writing, magna cum laude from the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies during 91��ɫ’s Spring 2023 convocation, this week.

“Not bad for a quadriplegic with a brain injury, eh?” asks Wardak who crossed the convocation stage in a wheelchair.

Dean Wardak crossed the convocation stage Tuesday, June 20, graduating with a professional writing degree, magna cum laude

A Mississauga native, Wardak has come a long way since he became a quadriplegic as a teen, after a drunk driving accident nearly killed him. “I suffered a brain injury and spinal cord injury from the accident, in which emergency responders found me without vital signs, trapped inside my half-crushed car,” he says speaking about the crash that made . “My life seemed like it was going to be filled with darkness for the remainder of it.”

At the time, he also wondered if it was a smart choice to return to school, considering the amount of time he had to dedicate to physical rehabilitation.

But his therapists convinced him that going back to school was important for the rehabilitation of his brain. “Thank god my recovery exceeded the expectations of doctors and other medical professionals,” says Wardak, who first joined Sheridan College and graduated with high honours from the General Arts & Sciences program in 2016.

His recovery not only gave him the motivation to thrive, but also moved him to spread hope and positivity to others looking for inspiration.

“I originally became a public speaker because I wanted to discourage people from drinking and driving. I felt like I had to use my story to prevent people from making the same mistake I made,” says Wardak. “I slowly learned, though, that I had more to offer to my audience with my story, so I transitioned to being more of a motivational speaker.”

Dean Wardak wanted to get education in writing, with an aim to write an inspirational book based on his near-death experience

Since then, Wardak has given numerous talks to church and youth groups, at police seminars and high schools about his near-death experience, recovery and more importantly how he still finds the strength to achieve great things with his life.

“The talks I give now make people laugh, cry, smile, and most importantly, it gives them hope. My story shows people the strength they can have when battling life’s challenges and that discipline and hard work can produce amazing results in all aspects of life. It tells people that love is a powerful force that can give families, friends and individuals the strength to support each other through adversity so that we never have to suffer alone.”

Hoping to touch the lives of people around the world who are looking for inspiration from those like himself, Wardak decided he wanted to write a book related to his experience.

“I wanted to get a university education in writing, so I joined 91��ɫ, which made my experience of going to university remarkable. I also wanted to prove to myself that I could accomplish anything I set my mind to.”

Wardak has already started writing copy for the book, though he hasn’t decided if it would be fiction or nonfiction. “The draft I am currently writing is a fictionalized version of my story to enhance drama and maintain some confidentiality. However, I am considering the idea of writing a reflection book that outlines my story without fictionalization and emphasizes the life lessons related to all of my experiences after the accident.”

Whether Wardak writes a true story-based fiction or an autobiographical nonfiction, he hopes his story will inspire many.

91��ɫ is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change and prepare our students for success. 91��ɫ's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. 91��ɫ’s campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.

Media Contact: Gloria Suhasini, 91��ɫ Media Relations and External Communications, 647-463-4354, suhasini@yorku.ca

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91��ɫ U’s first nursing PhD grad to cross spring 2023 convocation stage

suhasini — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 19:09:02 +0000

After taking an unusual career path for a male in India in the 1980s, Tamil Canadian achieves the distinction of being 91��ɫ’s first PhD graduate in nursing.

For a male in India in the 1980s to choose to be a nurse was highly unusual, but four decades and three continents later, it led Ramesh Venkatesa Perumal to earn the distinction of being the first graduate of 91��ɫ’s PhD program in nursing. He crosses the spring 2023 convocation stage June 16 at 10:30 a.m.

Ramesh Venkatesa Perumal earns the distinction of being the first graduate of 91��ɫ’s PhD program in nursing

Venkatesa Perumal began practicing as a nurse right after completing the diploma program in nursing in India’s well-known Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, in 1987, as one of only four men in his class of 50 students. “Even while in the program, I had the opportunity to work in the emergency care unit and then in the community health nursing department, so I got to see not just a few patients but a multitude of people for preventive health care as a nursing student.”

He remembers his father bringing home an application for the program, telling him nursing is what he’ll study. As it was not uncommon for parents to choose their children’s career goals, or the children to go with it, Venkatesa Perumal agreed to pursue nursing.

He also remembers how his mother carried him to a nearby town from his village for treatment when he was little and compares nursing to that kind of motherly care. “I did not get to choose my mother, but I received much love and compassion from her throughout my life. Similarly, a patient doesn’t get to choose a nurse, but it becomes our responsibility to ensure they are provided the best care.”

Venkatesa Perumal adds, “I consider it my calling, and this profession has made me a more humane and compassionate person. Looking back, I do not regret one moment of my life as a nurse.”

He also does not regret having to go back to school for a bridging program as an internationally educated professional to qualify to practice in Canada when he arrived here in 2014 from India via the Middle East.

“That was a blessing in disguise,” he says. “I went to 91��ɫ, met wonderful professors who encouraged me to go for doctoral research … which had gates open for me.”

After completing the Post-RN Internationally Educated Nurses (IEN) BScN program offered by the School of Nursing in the Faculty of Health — which is approved by the College of Nurses of Ontario and is said to be one of a kind in the province. After being an RN for a few years, Venkatesa Perumal joined the PhD program’s first cohort in 2018 and completed it this February, ahead of other candidates.

It’s not surprising Venkatesa Perumal chose the impact of social support and mentorship on career advancement of internationally educated nurses for his doctoral study.

As many Indians working in the Middle East who make a permanent move, often to a western country for their children’s future, their education and a better quality of life, Ramesh Venkatesa Perumal and his wife decided to come to Canada with their young son and daughter

In his case, aside from his mentors at 91��ɫ, his wife, who is also a registered nurse, has been a great support. “My wife kept encouraging me throughout. ‘Go and explore what the opportunities are’.” And that support helped him go a long way. He not only dedicated most of his time to studies, but also to teaching, as an assistant professor in the School of Nursing, while mentoring immigrants and newcomers in his profession, as the School’s IEN coordinator.

Teaching is not new to Venkatesa Perumal. After completing his master’s degree in the medical surgical nursing field and a fellowship in Australia, he taught at CMC as a lecturer for five years, until he moved to Muscat, Oman with wife for brighter prospects. He was a lecturer and assistant dean of undergraduate studies at Sultan Qaboos University, where he helped establish a BScN program.

As many Indians working in the Middle East who make a permanent move, often to a western country for their children’s future, their education and a better quality of life, Venkatesa Perumal and his wife decided to come to Canada with their young son and daughter.

Based on his family’s successful immigration, and integration into the Canadian society, Venkatesa Perumal has a few words of wisdom for fellow immigrants: “It can be very frustrating and challenging as an Internationally Educated Professional, but there are support systems put in place, so hang in there. Network with people in your profession, connect with the right people and use the right strategy. You will succeed and yes everyone can and will succeed.”

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91��ɫ will celebrate outstanding community leaders with honorary degrees during Convocation

roshanp — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 14:24:27 +0000

TORONTO, June 10, 2019 – 91��ɫ will award 10 honorary degrees during spring Convocation this year to recognize outstanding contributions to community building, social justice, health research and philanthropy.

“The individuals we are honouring are transforming the lives of teachers in the Dadaab refugee settlements and new Canadians in Toronto. They are leading the way on social justice and human rights issues, and providing the world with groundbreaking health research,” said Rhonda L. Lenton, president and vice-chancellor of 91��ɫ. “Their achievements serve as inspiration for 91��ɫ’s newest graduates and for all of us.”

Convocation will be held at 91��ɫ’s Keele campus from��Friday, June 14 to Friday, June 21, 2019 (see ). Ceremonies will be held at the Convocation Pavilion, Aviva Centre, located at 1 Shoreham Drive, on the west side of the Keele campus (See ).

Below are the honorary degree recipients in order of the Faculty ceremonies at which they will be honoured. Biographies of the honorary degree recipients can be found :

Lynn Posluns (Faculty of Health, Faculty of Environmental Studies and Lassonde School of Engineering, Friday, June 14, 2019, 3:30 p.m.)
Lynn Posluns is founder and president of Women’s Brain Health Initiative, which she established to ensure researchers considered gender differences in the brain.

Paul Alofs��(Faculty of Health, Monday, June 17, 2019, 10:30 a.m.)
Paul Alofs is a social sector champion and former CEO of Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, where he successfully led a Billion Dollar Challenge in fundraising.

Paul Gross��(Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, Monday, June 17, 2019, 3:30pm)
Paul Gross is an eminent Canadian actor, writer, director, producer and arts supporter who brings Canada’s stories to Canadians.

Marcie Ponte (Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, Tuesday, June 18, 2019, 10:30 a.m.)
Marcie Ponte is executive director of the Working Women Community Centre and a community builder committed to new Canadians.

Anne C. Cools (Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, Wednesday, June 19, 2019, 10:30 a.m.)
Anne Cools was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 1984, becoming the first black Canadian Senator, and served for 35 years until retiring last year. She is a social justice and civil rights advocate and pioneer in protection of women from domestic abuse.

Jennifer Doudna (Faculty of Science, Thursday, June 20, 2019, 10:30 a.m.)
Jennifer Doudna is a biochemist and leading genomics researcher whose co-discovery of CRISPR-Cas9 genetic engineering technology has had huge impact for biology and medicine.

Marangu Njogu (Faculty of Education, Thursday, June 20, 2019, 3:30 p.m.)
Marangu Njogu has provided leadership in the development of refugee education in Africa for three decades, including in the Dadaab refugee settlement where 91��ɫ’s Faculty of Education delivers teacher education programs.

Cheryl McEwen (Schulich School of Business, Friday, June 21, 2019, 10:30 a.m.)
Cheryl McEwen is an entrepreneur and community leader. Cheryl and Rob McEwen’s philanthropy has made a tremendous impact on Canadian healthcare and education.

Kimberlé Crenshaw (Osgoode Hall Law School, Friday, June 21, 2019, 3:30 p.m.)
Kimberlé Crenshaw is a professor of Law at Columbia Law School and the University of California, Los Angeles, and leading scholar and thought leader in civil rights and black feminist legal history.

Glendon Campus opened Convocation season last Friday by awarding an honorary Doctor of Laws to businessman and philanthropist .

91��ɫ champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91��ɫ students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91��ɫ U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91��ɫ is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni.
91��ɫ U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media Contact: Janice Walls, 91��ɫ Media Relations, wallsj@yorku.ca, 416-455-4710.

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91��ɫ will celebrate outstanding community leaders with honorary degrees during Convocation

roshanp — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 14:24:27 +0000

Below are the honorary degree recipients in order of the Faculty ceremonies at which they will be honoured. Biographies of the honorary degree recipients can be found :

Glendon Campus opened Convocation season last Friday by awarding an honorary Doctor of Laws to businessman and philanthropist .

Media Contact: Janice Walls, 91��ɫ Media Relations, wallsj@yorku.ca, 416-455-4710.

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International development leader Tim Brodhead recognized with honorary degree from 91��ɫ

roshanp — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 20:28:09 +0000

TORONTO, June 20, 2018 –Tim Brodhead, who has improved the lives of thousands of people worldwide, was awarded a 91��ɫ honorary doctor of laws degree today during the spring convocation ceremony for Glendon and the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.

A visionary leader whose career has been dedicated to empowering the subjugated and oppressed, Brodhead is an inspiration for compassionate and strategic social and cultural change. He has revolutionized the not-for-profit sector and is a leader in international development and public policy.

Tim Brodhead received an honorary doctor of laws degree at 91��ɫ's spring 2018 convocation

Accepting a position at the University of Ife (Nigeria) in 1964, Brodhead began a 25-year relationship with Africa. During this time, he promoted international development specifically in the areas of refugee, post-conflict and disaster regions. He served with CUSO, consulted with aid agencies and foreign governments, and founded several organizations including ACORD, to guide and support international NGOs to plan and implement development projects in Africa. Brodhead’s expertise also allowed him to provide training and advice to CIDA, foreign governments and several UN agencies. He was appointed as president and CEO of the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation in 1995, a position he held until 2011.

Brodhead continues to serve several organizations including the Ottawa Community Foundation, Reconciliation Canada, the Arctic Inspiration Prize and the Stephen Jarislowsky Foundation. As a result of this accomplished career, Brodhead has been invested as an Officer of the Order of Canada. He received both the Queen Elizabeth II Gold and Diamond Jubilee Medals and has also received a number of honorary degrees.

91��ɫ champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91��ɫ students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91��ɫ U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91��ɫ is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni. 91��ɫ U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media Contact: Janice Walls, Media Relations, 91��ɫ, 416 455-4710, wallsj@yorku.ca

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Corporate leader and women’s rights advocate Annette Verschuren receives honorary degree from 91��ɫ

roshanp — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 20:17:11 +0000

TORONTO, June 15, 2018 –��91��ɫ today recognized the many contributions of Canadian corporate leader and rights advocate Annette Verschuren, who received an honorary doctor of laws degree at a 91��ɫ Spring Convocation ceremony for graduates in the Faculty of Health and Faculty of Environmental Studies.

Passionate about modern energy technologies and corporate development, Verschuren, chair and CEO of NRStor Inc., is an industry leader inspiring environmental accountability, business development, and women’s rights. She is also an advocate for mental health.

Raised on Cape Breton Island, she quickly made her mark with both the Cape Breton Development Corporation and the Canada Development Investment Corporation. She served as president of The Home Depot Canada and Asia from 1996 to 2011, before founding NRStor Inc., an energy storage technology company. She is also the co-founder of Michaels of Canada.

Corporate leader and rights advocate Annette Verschuren, received an honorary doctor of laws degree at a 91��ɫ Spring Convocation ceremony for graduates in the Faculty of Health and Faculty of Environmental Studies.

Verschuren is passionate about volunteering. She has contributed her expertise to Habitat for Humanity, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the Rideau Hall Foundation, and numerous other philanthropic causes. Women’s rights are paramount to her development and she regularly mentors young women. She spoke at the 2017 International Women’s Day celebrations in Halifax.

A past Chair of Ontario’s Clean Energy Task Force, Verschuren is an adviser to the Eco-Fiscal Commission, founder of Smart Prosperity, and was invited by the Prime Minister to serve with the U.S./Canadian Women’s Business Council. She is the proud Chancellor of Cape Breton University, and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2011 for her corporate social responsibility. In 2012, she was appointed co-chair of the 2012 Governor General’s Leadership Conference.

91��ɫ��champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91��ɫ students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91��ɫ U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91��ɫ is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni. 91��ɫ U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media Contact:

Janice Walls, Media Relations, 91��ɫ, 416 455 4710, wallsj@yorku.ca

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Corporate leader and women’s rights advocate Annette Verschuren receives honorary degree from 91��ɫ

roshanp — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 20:17:11 +0000

Media Contact:

Janice Walls, Media Relations, 91��ɫ, 416 455 4710, wallsj@yorku.ca

The post Corporate leader and women’s rights advocate Annette Verschuren receives honorary degree from 91��ɫ appeared first on News@91��ɫ.

91��ɫ U to recognize 13 outstanding individuals with honorary degrees at spring convocation

roshanp — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 13:41:26 +0000

TORONTO, June 13, 2016��– Thirteen outstanding individuals will be recognized with honorary degrees at 91��ɫ’s spring convocation for their significant contributions to society and in their respective fields. The recipients include a native rights activist, food advocate, theatre director, technology innovator and community leader.

“This year’s honorary degree recipients have made a remarkable impact in their communities through their work, social activism and volunteerism,” said Mamdouh Shoukri, 91��ɫ president and vice-chancellor. “Their leadership and vision has had far-reaching effects that have inspired important societal changes and positively touched countless lives.”

Convocation ceremonies will be held from��Friday, June 17 to Saturday, June 25. The��website includes a full schedule of all ceremonies. All ceremonies will take place at the Convocation Pavilion, located at the Aviva Centre, 1 Shoreham Drive, at 91��ɫ’s Keele campus (#8 on the��), except for the Saturday, June 25th ceremony, which will be held at Glendon College.

Here are the recipients in order of the Faculty ceremonies at which they will be honoured:

Debbie Field – Food advocate, social activist, educator
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Faculty of Health I – Friday, June 17, 10:30am

Debbie Field is an international leader in creating a more socially just and environmentally sustainable food system. As executive director of FoodShare, Canada’s largest food security organization, she has generated innovative solutions to problems at all levels of the food system. A social activist, Field has collaborated with 91��ɫ faculty and students for two decades on research, advocacy and public education. She has also contributed to both movement-building and policy change at the municipal, provincial and federal levels. For her contributions, she has received many accolades including the Ophea Award for Outstanding Contribution, a Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal, OPSEU Bread and Roses Award, a Vital People Award and a Toronto Green Leader.

John Friedmann – Planning theorist and scholar
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Faculty of Health II and Faculty of Environmental Studies – Friday, June 17, 3:30pm

John Friedmann is one of the most influential planning academics alive. Born in Austria in 1926, he received his PhD from the University of Chicago and has published 15 individually authored books, 11 co-edited books, and more than 200 chapters, articles and reviews. He is a professor emeritus in the School of Public Affairs at the University of California, Los Angeles, and an honorary professor in the School of Community and Regional Planning at the University of British Columbia. In 1996, he conducted a much-recognized seminar with planning faculty and students at the Faculty of Environmental Studies at 91��ɫ. Outside of planning scholarship, Friedmann is best known for his seminal work on his world city theory. He is a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Order of Bernardo O’Higgins from Chile and the first UN-Habitat Lecture Award for lifetime achievement in the service of human settlements.

Victor Phillip Dahdaleh – Business leader, philanthropist
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Faculty of Health III – Monday, June 20, 10:30am

Victor Phillip Dahdaleh (BA Hons) is owner and chair of Dadco, a privately owned investment, manufacturing and trading group. Recently, he established the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health at 91��ɫ with a transformational contribution of $20 million, the largest gift ever received from a graduate of the University. Dahdaleh is an Honorary Fellow of the London School of Economics, a trustee of the Clinton Foundation, a board member of the McGill University Trust, a board member of the International Aluminium Institute, a Fellow of the Duke of Edinburgh Award World Fellowship and immediate past-president of the Canada-United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce. The Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Charitable Foundation funds many organizations worldwide, focusing on education, health-related research, economic and social development, and the arts.

Jillian Keiley – Theatre director
Honorary Doctor of Letters
School of Arts, Media Performance & Design and Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies I – Monday, June 20, 3:30pm

Since graduating from 91��ɫ, Jillian Keiley (BFA ’94) has become a leading director in Canadian theatre. Founder of Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland, she has directed and taught across Canada and has worked internationally. She is the artistic director of the National Arts Centre (NAC) English Theatre, a position she has held since 2012. Her productions at the NAC have included��a re-working of��Tartuffe��set in Newfoundland, Artistic Fraud’s��Oil and Water��Ի��Alice Through the Looking-Glass, which she also directed for the Stratford Festival. Her production of��Tempting Providence��by Robert Chafe toured nationally and internationally for 12 years. Keiley received the prestigious Siminovitch Prize in Theatre (directing) in 2004 and the Canada Council’s John Hirsch Prize in 1997.

Jeannette Corbiere Lavell – Native women’s rights activist, educator
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies II – Tuesday, June 21, 10:30am

Jeannette Lavell, a member of the Wikwemikong First Nation in Ontario, is best known for the Lavell Case, which challenged the Indian Act before the Supreme Court of Canada, after she lost her Indian status by marrying a non-native in 1970. Her failed challenge inspired a later case that brought the issue of status removal to the United Nations International Human Rights Commission. In 1985, the Indian Act was amended to remove the discriminatory clauses against native women. She has served as president of the Native Women’s Association of Canada, a cabinet appointee to the Commission on the Native Justice System, president of the Nishnawbe Institute and president of Anduhyaun Inc. After earning a teaching degree, she worked as a teacher and school principal in her community. She is a recipient of the 2009 Governor General Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case, honouring Canadians who advance gender equality.

Roger Mahabir – Technology innovator, community leader
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies III – Tuesday, June 21, 3:30pm

Roger Mahabir is chair and CEO of Tracker Networks Inc., as well as president and CEO of Technology Innovations Inc. Most recently, he was chair and chief executive of Assurent Secure Technologies, a successful software security company he sold to Telus. Born in Trinidad, he has been inducted into the Canadian Information Productivity Hall of Fame for his innovations in technology. He has served as chief information officer in several Fortune 500 organizations and is recognized as one of IT industry’s top transformative leaders.�� His achievements have won international acclaim and been archived by the Smithsonian. A former student of 91��ɫ’s Atkinson College and graduate of Ryerson University, he is an angel investor and mentor to entrepreneurial students and senior executives in Canada.�� He remains active with community groups, charities and his local church, where he has served in several capacities for over 30 years.

Ann B. (Rusty) Shteir – Feminist scholar, academic leader
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies IV – Wednesday, June 22, 10:30am

A pioneer of interdisciplinary feminist research and teaching in North America, Ann Shteir has been teaching at 91��ɫ since 1972. She was among the founders of 91��ɫ’s graduate program in women’s studies in 1992, serving as its first director from 1993 to 1997. She has taught and developed undergraduate and graduate courses in humanities, women’s studies on gender, women’s and feminist history, and cultural history. Shteir received her PhD in comparative literature from Rutgers University. Her monograph,��Cultivating Women, Cultivating Science: Flora’s Daughters and Botany in England, 1760 to 1860, won the prestigious Joan Kelly Memorial Prize in Women’s History. Over the years, her feminist impact has not only opened institutional doors for female scholars, but it has generated groundbreaking scholarship in women’s history.

David F. Denison – Businessman, community leader
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies V – Wednesday, June 22, 3:30pm

A��Canadian��businessman��and chair��of��Hydro One, David Denison��is the former president and��CEO��of the��Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. He has had an extensive career in��financial services��in Canada, the United States and Europe. He is a��Chartered Professional��Accountant and a Fellow of the��Institute of��Chartered Accountants��of��Ontario.��In 2014, he was appointed an officer of the��Order of��Canada, as well as a member of the��Premier’s Advisory��Council on Government Assets to review and identify opportunities to modernize government business enterprises in Ontario. In addition, he has provided lengthy and dedicated service as a compassionate volunteer to 91��ɫ. He was first appointed to 91��ɫ’s Board of Governors in 2003 and served continuously in that capacity until 2011.

James Harris Simons – Mathematician, financier, philanthropist
Honorary Doctor of Science
Lassonde School of Engineering and Faculty of Science – Thursday, June 23, 10:30am

James Simons is chair of the Simons Foundation, an organization dedicated to advancing the frontiers of research in mathematics, basic sciences and the causes of autism. He is also board chair of Renaissance Technologies LLC, a highly quantitative investment firm.�� In 1975, he received the American Mathematical Society Veblen Prize in Geometry for work that involved a recasting of the subject of area minimizing multi-dimensional surfaces. His most influential research, called the Chern-Simons Invariants, has wide use particularly in theoretical physics. As founder and chair of the nonprofit organization Math for America, Simons is dedicated to improving math education in American public schools. In 2016, asteroid 6618, discovered by Clyde Tombaugh in 1936, was named Jimsimons by the International Astronomical Union in honor of his mathematical and philanthropic contributions.

Sylvia Maracle – Community leader, educator, activist
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Faculty of Education – Thursday, June 23, 3:30pm

Sylvia Maracle (Skonaganleh:ra) is a Mohawk from the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, a member of the Wolf Clan and a passionate advocate for urban Aboriginal Peoples, the cultural revitalization of her people and women's rights. She has been involved in the Indigenous Friendship Centre Movement for over 40 years, serving as the executive director of the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres for much of that time. She is president of Native Child & Family Services of Toronto, co-chair of the City of Toronto Taskforce on Access and Equity, and past president of the Native Women's Resource Centre. Maracle has fundamentally altered the landscape for urban Aboriginal programs and policies through her tireless work.��Her achievements with a long list of regional and local organizations are internationally renowned and she is a recipient of a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

John Manley – Lawyer, businessman, politician
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Schulich School of Business – Friday, June 24, 10:30am

John Manley is a former Liberal deputy prime minister of Canada.��First elected to Parliament in 1988 and re-elected three times, he served in the portfolios of Industry, Foreign Affairs and Finance. Following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, he was named chair of a cabinet committee on public security and anti-terrorism and awarded the 2001 Newsmaker of the Year by��TIME Canada. Currently, he is president and CEO of the Business Council of Canada. After a 16-year career in politics, he returned to the private sector in 2004. An officer of the Order of Canada, he received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and political science from Carleton University and a juris doctor from the University of Ottawa. He has been a key advisor to the Schulich School of Business at 91��ɫ.

Joseph Arvay Q.C. – Lawyer, advocate for civil and human rights
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Osgoode Hall Law School – Friday, June 24, 3:30pm

Joseph Arvay has argued landmark cases involving civil liberties and constitutional rights. He has been counsel in Supreme Court of Canada cases establishing rights for the LGBTQ, drug addicts, sex workers, prisoners, First Nations communities, and most recently for those seeking physician assisted dying (Carter). He has served as a McMurtry Visiting Clinical Fellow at 91��ɫ’s Osgoode Hall Law School. He delivered the Lewtas Lecture and devoted part of his time at Osgoode to mentoring students, lawyers and academics in clinical settings. He has received numerous honours, including the Advocate Society’s Justice Award, the Liberty Award from the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association and the Walter S. Tarnopolsky Human Rights Award. He was recognized by��Canadian Lawyer��as one of the top 25 most influential lawyers in Canada every year between 2010 and 2014.

Kevin G. Lynch – Economist, business leader, public servant
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Glendon College – Saturday, June 25, 2:30pm

Widely recognized as a renowned Canadian economist and policy advocate in public service, Kevin Lynch is the vice-chairman of BMO Financial Group and active on not-for-profit boards and international advisory committees. He began his career in 1976 with the Bank of Canada. He has served as deputy minister in the industry and finance portfolios, as well as executive director at the International Monetary Fund. He was the 20th clerk of the Privy Council of Canada, former secretary to the cabinet and former head of the Public Service of Canada. He retired from the Government of Canada in 2009. An officer of the Order of Canada, Lynch was made a member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada in 2009 and is a recipient of both the Queen’s Diamond and Golden Jubilee Medals for public service. He also lends his extensive experience to many community organizations.

��is known for championing new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our 52,000 students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-discipline programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91��ɫ students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world's most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91��ɫ U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 24 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide.

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