Toronto, June 8, 2012 – Journalist and activist Barbara Turnbull will receive an honorary degree from York University on Friday, June 8, and speak to Faculty of Health students at their 10:30am Convocation ceremony. Athlete, journalist and activist Laura Jane Robinson, who will also be awarded an honorary degree, will speak to students at the 3:30pm Faculty of Health Convocation.

Barbara Turnbull, Doctor of Laws, Friday, June 8, 10:30am −
Barbara Turnbull is a life reporter for the Toronto Star and an outspoken advocate for accessibility. Turnbull was left a quadriplegic after being shot in a robbery at the convenience store where she was working at the age of 18. In 1997, she published her autobiography, Looking in the Mirror, speaking frankly about the facts of life for those with disabilities in our communities and in the workplace. Dedicated to advancing research into neural regeneration for paralysis, she created the Barbara Turnbull Foundation for Spinal Cord Research. She has devoted her time, energy, her book’s proceeds and all speaking fees to the foundation. In conjunction with NeuroScience Canada, the foundation has created the Barbara Turnbull Award, a major annual award in support of spinal cord research.

Turnbull is also a council member of the Robarts Research Institute for medical research programs and honourary co-chair of the University Health Network, which supports the Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion initiative. She has been recognized by the YWCA of Toronto as a Woman of Distinction.

Laura Jane Robinson, Doctor of Laws, Friday, June 8, 3:30pm −
Laura Robinson is a distinguished athlete, an accomplished author and freelance journalist, a coach and mentor, and a pioneer in the movement for women’s visibility, equity and opportunity in athletics. As a young athlete, Laura Robinson witnessed first-hand the pressures, inequities and risks that were faced by women athletes. Through her journalism, Robinson has educated the Canadian public and sports authorities about gender and race disparity. Through her coaching and mentorship – particularly in the chronically under-served First Nations communities – she has put remedies into practice.

The author of five books on issues in sport, Robinson’s work has appeared in international media and she has produced several documentaries. Robinson’s contributions to the sports world as an advocate, thought leader and mentor are mirrored by her athletic achievements – she is a former member of Canada’s national cycling team, a provincial skiing champion and a national champion in rowing.

Robinson is the recipient of several awards, including the Investigative Reporters and Editors Award, the Robertine Barry Prize by the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women, the Debwewin Citation for excellence in journalism and Best Short Live Film at the American Indian Film Festival in Stuttgart, Germany, for her documentary on First Nations athletes.

Convocation ceremonies will take place at the Convocation Pavilion located at the Rexall Centre, 1 Shoreham Drive, at York University’s Keele campus (#8 on map).
Ceremonies will be webcast at the following link, which will become live when ceremonies begin: http://www.yorku.ca/mygrad/livewebcast.

York University is a 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 55,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, as well as 250,000 alumni worldwide. York’s 10 faculties and 28 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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Media Contact:
Joanne Rider, Media Relations, York University, 416 736 5593, 416-333-3374 (cell) /   jrider@yorku.ca
Janice Walls, Media Relations, York University, 416 736 2100 x22101, 416-455-4710 (cell) /  wallsj@yorku.ca
Melissa Hughes, Media Relations, York University, 416 736 2100 x22097 /  mehughes@yorku.ca

York University has a media studio for double-ender interviews.