Toronto, Oct. 10, 2012 – Rick Tobias, a lifelong advocate for low-income and marginalized people, will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws from York University on Thursday, Oct. 11. Tobias, formerly chief executive officer of The Yonge Street Mission, and now Community Advocate for the Mission, has collaborated with business and professional leaders to promote change in Toronto. He will address graduates at the 3:30pm Convocation at the Tennis Canada Rexall Centre on York’s Keele Campus (see map).

A native of Saint John, New Brunswick, Tobias earned a BA in Sociology from Acadia University and a master of divinity degree from Acadia Divinity College. He also graduated from the Seminary Consortium for Urban Pastoral Education in Chicago, and in 2003 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Divinity from McMaster University.

Tobias refocused the Yonge Street Mission’s Evergreen Centre to address needs of street youth. As CEO of the Yonge Street Mission, he led staff and volunteers in crafting programs to help break the cycle of multi-generational poverty.

A frequent speaker on Canadian poverty, urban ministry, youth-at-risk and strategies for community-wide change, Tobias appears frequently on television, radio and in print media and is sought after as a consultant and coach. Since 1984 he has been a regular lecturer at Tyndale University College & Seminary, and has taught and consulted abroad.

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

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Media Contacts:
Janice Walls, Media Relations, York University, 416 736 2100 x22101 / wallsj@yorku.ca
Joanne Rider, Chief Spokesperson and Director, Media Relations, York University, 416-736-5593 / jrider@yorku.ca