The recipients are: H. Anthony Arrell, Canadian business leader and philanthropist; David Broadfoot, humourist, writer, performer, producer and director; and Justice Harry S. LaForme, Ontario Court of Appeal judge and Aboriginal rights expert.

“In bestowing honorary doctorates on these three individuals, we’re recognizing their contributions to their respective disciplines and to Canadian society,” said York University President and Vice Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri. “We hope they will inspire our graduates to approach their own careers with the same determination and passion, and to put what they have learned into practice for the betterment of all.”

Recipients’ bios are listed, below, in order of ceremony:

H. Anthony Arrell, Honorary Doctor of Laws

Friday, Oct. 17, 2008, 10 am (Schulich School of Business EMBA)

Tony Arrell, Chairman and CEO of Burgundy Asset Management Ltd., has had a distinguished career in Canadian business and has made important contributions to Canadian society. Mr. Arrell has stayed active in the education community by serving as Chairman of the Board of The Bishop Strachan School from 1997 to 2001; Trustee of the Board of Governors of the University of Guelph, and as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council at the Schulich School of Business. Mr. Arrell is a member of the Board of St. Michael’s Hospital, and is Chair of the St. Michael’s Foundation Board and the St. Michael’s Hospital Pension Committee. He has been active for many years with the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and The Canadian Opera Company.

David Broadfoot, Honorary Doctor of Letters

Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008, 10:30 am (Faculty of Graduate Studies; Faculty of Arts; Faculty of Education; Faculty of Fine Arts; Glendon College)

Dave Broadfoot is an internationally-known comedian, comedy writer, performer, and political satirist. He has enriched the cultural life of Canada by reflecting us to ourselves with wit and intelligence. Mr. Broadfoot is a veteran of the legendary CBC comedy show Royal Canadian Air Farce, and holds the distinction of Officer of the Order of Canada. He won a Juno for comedy recording, and has received 14 radio and TV comedy awards. Mr. Broadfoot’s performances for Canada’s military forces have taken him to Korea, Japan, Gaza, Germany, Cyprus, Egypt, the Golan Heights, Bosnia, Croatia, and Afghanistan.

Justice Harry S. LaForme, Honorary Doctor of Laws

Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008, 3 pm (Faculty of Graduate Studies; Faculty of Environmental Studies; Faculty of Health; Osgoode Hall Law School; Schulich School of Business; Faculty of Science and Engineering)

The Honourable Justice Harry LaForme was appointed to the Ontario Court of Appeal in 2004 – the first Aboriginal person to be appointed to sit on any appellate court in the history of Canada.  Justice LaForme graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1977 and was called to the Ontario Bar in 1979.  He soon commenced his own practice, specializing in Aboriginal law and focussing on matters involving the Constitution and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. He has appeared before each level of court, travelled extensively throughout Canada, and represented Canadian Aboriginal interests in Switzerland, New Zealand, and to the British Parliament.  He was a member of the Osgoode Alumni Board of Directors for almost 20 years.

Convocation ceremonies are held in the convocation pavilion located on York’s Keele campus, between Osgoode Hall Law School and the Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies (with the exception of the Schulich EMBA ceremony, which is held in McEwen Auditorium). For a campus map, click here.

Ceremonies will be streamed live over the internet.

Media contact:
Melissa Hughes, Media Relations, York University: 416 736 2100 x22097, mehughes@yorku.ca

York University is the leading interdisciplinary research and teaching university in Canada. York offers a modern, academic experience at the undergraduate and graduate level in Toronto, Canada’s most international city. The third largest university in the country, York is host to a dynamic academic community of 50,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, as well as more than 200,000 alumni worldwide. York’s 11 faculties and 26 research centres conduct ambitious, groundbreaking research that is interdisciplinary, cutting across traditional academic boundaries. This distinctive and collaborative approach is preparing students for the future and bringing fresh insights and solutions to real-world challenges. York University is an autonomous, not-for-profit corporation.

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