TORONTO, October 15, 2013 − Three exceptional people will receive honorary degrees from York University at Fall Convocation ceremonies.
“In honouring these individuals we pay tribute to the positive difference they make to our global community through academe, entrepreneurism and corporate leadership,” says Mamdouh Shoukri, president and vice chancellor, York University. “We are truly inspired by them, and our graduates will learn from their fine example as they fulfill their own potential in their chosen work and as citizens of the world.”
Convocation ceremonies will be held from Wednesday, Oct. 16 to Friday, Oct. 18. 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 Kellogg-Schulich Executive MBA ceremony, which will take place in the McEwen Auditorium, Seymour Schulich Building which is also located at Keele campus.
Here are the recipients in order of the Faculty ceremonies where they will be honoured:
John D. Whyte, LLD, Academic and former Saskatchewan Deputy Attorney General and Deputy Minister of Justice − Doctor of Laws
Faculties of Education, Environmental Studies, Fine Arts, and Science; Lassonde School of Engineering; Schulich School of Business; Glendon College; and Osgoode Law School, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 10:30am
Professor John Whyte has made enormous contributions to public life and has held senior positions in the Saskatchewan government. Whyte has held academic appointments at several universities, including Osgoode Hall Law School at York University. He is a foremost expert in constitutional law, rights discourse and rights recognition in democratic states, Aboriginal rights, minority rights, the judicial process, theories of social inclusion and social development.
Raymond ‘Ray’ Kurzweil, Inventor, author, futurist, and Director of Engineering at Google - Doctor of Laws
Faculty of Health, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 3:30pm
Raymond Kurzweil has played a prominent role in supporting students with disabilities through software technology and character recognition equipment inventions, which has resulted in higher education becoming more accessible to a multitude of students. This technology has enabled York University, as a leader in accessibility to higher learning, to fulfill this commitment to students and society.
Ed Clark, Philanthropist and Group President & CEO, TD Bank Group − Doctor of Laws
Kellogg-Schulich Executive MBA, Friday, Oct. 18, 10:00am
Ed Clark has held senior leadership positions in both the public and private sector. He has received numerous accolades for his contributions to Canada’s banking and financial industry as well his voluntary and philanthropic endeavours, including an appointment to the Order of Canada in 2010.
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 2100 x55593, 416-333-3374 (cell) / jrider@yorku.ca
Gloria Suhasini, Media Relations, York University, 416 736 2100 x22094 / gsuhasini@yorku.ca
