Toronto, June 11, 2012 – Energy lawyer David J. McFadden will receive an honorary degree from York University on Monday, June 11, and speak to Environmental Studies and Science and Engineering students at their 10:30am Convocation ceremony. William J. S. Boyle, a champion of the arts, will also be awarded an honorary degree, and will speak at the 3:30pm Convocation for students in the Faculty of Fine Arts and Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.
David J. McFadden, Doctor of Laws, Monday, June 11, 10:30am
David McFadden spearheaded evolution of the Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) as the chair of the board of directors from 2004 to 2011. Under his leadership, OCE solidified its capacity to bring together academic and industry partners to commercialize cutting-edge academic research and foster the training and development of the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.
He also served two years as a member of the Ontario Research & Innovation Council, developing a long-term innovation strategy for Ontario. A partner and member of the board of trustees at Gowlings’ Toronto law office, he acts for corporations, municipalities and utilities involved in the generation, distribution, marketing and financing of energy. He has also served on several government task forces, including the Ontario government’s Electricity Conservation & Supply Task Force and the Electric System Working Group, part of the joint Canada-US task force established to investigate the power blackout that hit Ontario and much of the northeastern US in August 2003.
He is currently a member of the board of directors of the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships, the Canadian Nuclear Law Organization, the Energy Council of Canada and member of Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy’s advisory council. The Association of Power Producers of Ontario named him the 2001 recipient of its Ontario Competition Award for Electricity in recognition of his efforts in advancing competition in the electricity industry in Ontario.
William J. S. Boyle, Doctor of Laws,Monday, June 11, 3:30pm
A graduate of York University (BA ’69, MA ’71) William Boyle has had a multi-dimensional arts career that has been recognized both nationally and internationally. In his role as the chief executive officer of Harbourfront Centre, Boyle is considered the primary cultural architect of one of Canada’s largest multidisciplinary cultural centres.
In 2003, former prime minister Jean Chrétien appointed Boyle to the Canada-Japan Forum. Boyle is a member of the Order of Canada and in 2004 he received an outstanding contribution award from the Association of Cultural Executives. He was appointed a Knight of the Order of Dannebrog by Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.
Boyle has been described an effective advocate for the integration of the arts in the broader community and one of Canada’s greatest cultural mentors – a person who passionately promotes both emerging and mature artistic talent and innovation here and abroad.
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
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