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Convocation

CONVOCATION
Webcast

HONORARY DOCTORATES

At the 2013 Spring and Fall Convocations, we will grant honorary degrees to the following distinguished individuals, each of whom has made outstanding contributions to their fields. We take great pride in honouring their achievements, and in honouring the achievements of our exceptional graduating students.

Spring 2013 Recipients

The Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair

The Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair was appointed associate chief judge of the Provincial Court of Manitoba in March 1988 and to the Court of Queen’s Bench of Manitoba in January 2001. He was Manitoba’s first Aboriginal judge. He will receive an honorary doctorate at the Faculty of Community Services ceremony June 6 at 9:30 a.m.

Kenneth Dryden

Kenneth Dryden is a hockey legend and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. He served as Ontario’s first youth commissioner from 1984 to 1986 and in 2004 he was elected as a member of parliament, serving as minister of social development during Paul Martin’s tenure as prime minister. He will receive an honorary doctorate at the Faculty of Community Services ceremony June 7 at 2:30 p.m.

Sue Gardner

Sue Gardner, Journalism ’90 alumna, started her career at the CBC working as a producer, reporter and documentarian before becoming senior director of CBC.ca. In 2007, Gardner became executive director of the Wikimedia Foundation, the world’s fifth most popular website. She will receive an honorary degree at the Faculty of Communication & Design ceremony June 10 at 9:30 a.m.

Deepa Mehta

Deepa Mehta, film maker, is a transnational artist known for telling universally meaningful stories. Her films have been screened at every major film festival in the world, have been distributed globally and earned numerous awards. She will receive an honorary degree at the Faculty of Communication & Design ceremony June 10 at 2:30 p.m.

Judith Levkoe

Judith Levkoe, retired YMCA executive, Chang School and early childhood studies alumna ‘61, is a lifelong learner whose career has focused on leading change in the community. Starting out as a community worker in the Jane-Finch neighbourhood, Levkoe’s 28-year career reinvented the service model, improved child care in the GTA and increased demand for family support. She will receive an honorary doctorate at The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education ceremony June 11 at 6 p.m.

Chief Justice Warren Winkler

Chief Justice Warren Winkler has acted as a judicial mediator for many large labour disputes, including those involving the Detroit Windsor Tunnel, Ontario Hydro and power workers, and the restructuring of Air Canada. He will receive an honorary doctorate at the Ted Rogers School of Management ceremony June 13 at 2:30 p.m.

Diane Francis

Diane Francis is a journalist, broadcaster, entrepreneur, professor and bestselling author. Francis became the first woman to head a daily newspaper in Canada and is now editor-at-large and a columnist at the National Post and its sister newspapers. She will receive an honorary doctorate at the Ted Rogers School of Management ceremony June 14 at 9:30 a.m.

2012 Recipients

Shawn Atleo, National chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN).
Margaret Eleanor Atwood, Author.
Sally M. Horsfall Eaton, Nurse, philanthropist, humanitarian.
Christiane Germain, Entrepreneur, hotelier.
Graeme Gibson, Author, environmental activist.
Sarabjit S. Marwah, Vice-Chairman and Chief Operating Officer for Scotiabank.
Rohinton Mistry, Author.
Valerie Pringle, Broadcaster, philanthropist, alumna.
Ivan Reitman, Film producer and director.
Robert B. Thirsk,Canadian Astronaut.
Colm Wilkinson, Celebrated Broadway star.

2011 Recipients

Charles S. Coffey, Community leader and former Executive Vice President, Government Affairs and Business Development for RBC Financial Group
Ruth daCosta, Executive Director of Covenant HouseJoanne H. Dallaire, traditional healer and a pipe carrier
Joanne H. Dallaire, a traditional healer and a pipe carrier
Phil Fontaine, Past National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations
Laura Formusa, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hydro One Inc
Ursula Franklin, Professor emeritus, physicist, pacifist, feminist, human rights activist, educator
Michael MacMillan, Businessman, Canadian culture promoter, philanthropist, think tank founder
Des McAnuff, Internationally recognized Canadian director, producer, and playwright
Justice Robert W. Metzger, British Columbia Supreme Court judge
Julie Payette, Canadian, Canadian astronaut

2010 Recipients

William Alsop,Prominent contemporary Architect
Honourable Louise Arbour, President and CEO, International Crisis Group; former United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights; former Judge, Supreme Court of Canada
Anthony Gagliano, Executive Chairman and CEO of St. Joseph Communications
Paula Goering, Professor and Vice-Chair, Programs and Planning in the University of Toronto Department of Psychiatry with cross-appointments to the Faculty of Nursing, Institute of Medical Science and the Department of Health Policy, Management and Evaluatio
Honourable Frances Lankin, President and CEO, United Way Toronto
The Right Honourable Beverley M. McLachlin,Appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada
Kyle Rae, Local Politician, City of Toronto Councillor
David Smith, Senior Policy Fellow, Saskatchewan Institute for Public Policy; Professor Emeritus

2009 Recipients

Michael Adams,The founding President of the Environics Group of research and communications consulting companies.
John Béliveau,Canadian Hockey Legend
Dr. John A. Bickley,was partner and manager of the consulting engineering company Trow Inc.
Alan Broadbent, a Member of the Order of Canada and is presently the Chairman and CEO of Avana Capital Corporation, a private investment holding company, and the Chairman of Jamscor Inc.
Honorable Edward Broadbent, PC, CC,was the leader of Canada's federal New Democratic Party
Dr. Gina Bohn Browne,researcher in chronic illness and service utilization
Bill Cunningham,Gemini award-winning former executive producer of The National, a CBC chief news editor, the founding vice-president of Global News
Dr. Micheal Guerriere, founder of HealthLink Clinical Data Network Inc.
Aditya Chandra Jha, Jha is President& CEO of Karma Candy Inc.
Dr. Asad M. Madni, President, COO and Director of BEI Technologies Inc.

2008 Recipients

Peter Busby, C.M., Architect, Co-founder and Chair of the Canada Green Building Council
Dominic D'Alessandro, O.C., President and CEO, Manulife Financial
John Honderich, OC, Journalist
Norman Jewison, C.C., Film Director, Founder of The Canadian Centre for Advanced Film Studies
The Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain, O.C., Philanthropist, Former Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick
Brenda Milner, C.C., Neuropsychologist, Cognitive Scientist
Janet Rosenberg, Ryerson Alumna, Landscape Architect, Founder of Janet Rosenberg and Associates Landscape Architects
Brian Segal, President of Ryerson Polytechnical Institute (1980-1988), President and Chief Executive Officer, Rogers Publishing Limited
Lotfi Asker Zadeh, Mathematician, Computer Scientist

2007 Recipients

Michael Belcourt, past President of Polo Ralph Lauren Canada
Edward Burtynsky, OC, internationally acclaimed photographer
Dr. Ramsay Cook, OC, respected Canadian historian
Dr. Gail Donner, O.Ont, Professor and Dean Emeritus in the Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto and past Chair of Nursing as Ryerson
Michele Landsberg, an award-winning journalist and one of Canada's best known social activists
Stephen Lewis, politician, diplomat and international envoy for humanitarian efforts
The Honourable Madam Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella, an extraordinary advocate for human rights, an exemplary scholar and an outstanding jurist
Dr. David Suzuki, CC, OBC, world-renowned geneticist, academic and broadcaster
Dr. Shirley M. Tilghman, world-renowned scholar and President of Princeton University
Donald Triggs, co-founder of Vincor, Canada's leading wine company
The Honourable George W. Vari, P.C., C.M., a passionate advocate and champion of education

2006 Recipients

Piers Handling, director and CEO, Toronto International Film Festival Group
Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson, past Governor General of Canada
Hon. Landon Pearson, senator (retired), director, Landon Pearson Resource Centre for the Study of Childhood and Children's Rights, Carleton University
Dr. Judith Shamian, president and CEO, Victorian Order of Nurses
Buzz Hargrove, national president, Canadian Auto Workers Union
Heather Reisman, founder and CEO, Indigo Books and Music Inc.
Christine Magee, president and co-founder, Sleep Country Canada
Margaret Somerville, professor of the Faculties of Law and Medicine, McGill University
Pierre Lassonde, president, Newmont Mining Corporation

2005 Recipients

Hon. James K. Bartleman, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
G. Raymond Chang, founder of The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education
Dennis Mock, President, Nipissing University
Herschel Segal, founder and CEO of women's wear retailer Le Chateau
Peter Mansbridge, Chief Correspondent, CBC Television News; anchor of CBC's flagship nightly news program, The National
Margaret MacMillan, Provost of Trinity College, University of Toronto; author of "Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World"
Janet Storch, professor and former director of the School of Nursing, University of Victoria
Hon. Tom Hockin, President and CEO, Investment Funds Institute of Canada; federal cabinet minister, 1986-1993
John L. Sharpe, President and COO (retired), Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
Elyse Allan, President and CEO of GE Canada
Julia Levy, biotechnologist, medical researcher and entrepreneur
Hany Moustapha, Senior Fellow and Manager, Pratt & Whitney Canada

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