York University will confer 12 honorary degrees at Spring Convocation

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Toronto, May 28, 2013 − Twelve exceptional people will receive honorary degrees from York University at Spring Convocation ceremonies.

“The collective and individual contributions of these distinguished men and women have made the global community a better place for all of us,” says Mamdouh Shoukri, president and vice-chancellor, York University. “Each one of them, by example, inspires our graduates to fulfill their own potential in their chosen work and as citizens of the world.”

Convocation ceremonies will be held from Friday, June 7 to Saturday, June 15. The Convocation website includes a full schedule of all ceremonies. All 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), with the exception of the final convocation ceremony, which will be held at the Glendon College campus.

Here are the recipients in order of the Faculty ceremonies where they will be honoured:

Rick Hansen, CC, OBC, Athlete, accessibility and inclusiveness advocate − Doctor of Laws
Faculty of Health I Friday, June 7, 10:30am

Bengt Lindqvist, − Accessibility rights advocate - Doctor of Laws
Faculty of Health II, Friday, June 7, 3:30pm 

Douglas Bergeron, Philanthropist, technology innovator and business executive − Doctor of Laws
Faculty of Environmental Studies and Faculty of Science & Engineering (Lassonde School of Engineering and Faculty of Science), Monday, June 10, 10:30am 

Peggy Baker, CM, OOnt, Artistic director, choreographer and  dancer − Doctor of Letters
Faculty of Fine Arts and Faculty of Liberal Arts &Professional Studies, Monday, June 10, 3:30pm

Bromley Armstrong, CM, OOnt Human rights, race relations and labour relations leader − Doctor of Laws
Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies II, Tuesday, June 11, 10:30am

The Honourable Gregory Sorbara, MPP Former Ontario Cabinet Minister and lawyer − Doctor of Laws
Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies III, Tuesday, June 11, 3:30pm

Nasrin Sotoudeh, Human rights lawyer (currently imprisoned in Iran) − Doctor of Laws
Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies IV, Wednesday, June 12, 10:30am

Serge Godin, CM, OQ Business leader − Doctor of Laws
Schulich School of Business, Thursday, June 13, 10:30am 

Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, Lawyer and children’s rights advocate − Doctor of Laws
Osgoode Hall Law School, Thursday, June 13, 3:30pm

The Honourable Mary Anne Chambers, MPP – Former Ontario Cabinet Member and Business Leader – Doctor of Laws
Faculty of Education I, Friday, June 14, 10:30am

Craig Kielburger, CM, MSM, OMC, Humanitarian and social activist − Doctor of Laws
Faculty of Education II, Friday, June 14, 3:30pm 

Jean-Michel Lacroix, Scholar and Educator − Doctor of Laws
Glendon College, Saturday, June 15, 2:30pm

York University is helping to shape the global thinkers and thinking that will define tomorrow. York U’s unwavering commitment to excellence reflects a rich diversity of perspectives and a strong sense of social responsibility that sets us apart. A York U degree empowers graduates to thrive in the world and achieve their life goals through a rigorous academic foundation balanced by real-world experiential education. As a globally recognized research centre, York U is fully engaged in the critical discussions that lead to innovative solutions to the most pressing local and global social challenges. York U’s 11 faculties and 28 research centres are thinking bigger, broader and more globally, partnering with 288 leading universities worldwide. York U's community is strong − 55,000 students, 7,000 faculty and staff, and more than 250,000 alumni.

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Media Contact:
Joanne Rider, Media Relations, York University, 416 736 5593 /  jrider@yorku.ca
Robin Heron, Media Relations, York University, 416 736 2100 x22097 /  rheron@yorku.ca