TORONTO, June 19, 2015 – Politician, strategic advisor, distinguished fellow David M. Collenette will receive an honorary degree from York University on Saturday, June 20 at 2:30pm at Glendon College. He will then deliver a speech to graduating students at their convocation ceremony.
David M. Collenette
One of York University’s most illustrious alumni from Glendon, David Collenette (BA ’69, MA ’04) was a member of the Canadian House of Commons for more than 20 years. Serving under former prime ministers Pierre Trudeau, John Turner and Jean Chrétien, he was minister of state-multiculturalism, national defense, veterans affairs, transport and crown corporations. As such, he left a deep imprint on Canada’s history.
Among many of his accomplishments, Collenette authored a major policy paper that charted a course for Canadian transportation policy over a decade, initiated legislative changes, and oversaw Canada’s response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States. As parliamentary secretary to the House leader during the constitutional debates of the early 1980s, he was assigned to Westminster to represent Canada’s interests.
Since retiring from politics in 2004, Collenette has worked as strategic counsel for organizations in public affairs, transportation and infrastructure, information technology and defence and security. He was a distinguished fellow at Glendon from 2004 to 2009. He has been a member of the Glendon School of Public and International Affairs Advisory Committee since 2007. He is a member of the Toronto East General Hospital Foundation Board, director of Harbourfront Centre and chair of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (North America.)
The convocation ceremony will take place at the Glendon College campus, 2275 Bayview Ave., Toronto (see map).
The ceremony will be webcast at the following link, which will become live when it begins: http://www.yorku.ca/mygrad/livewebcast.
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 25 research centres are thinking bigger, broader and more globally, partnering with 280 leading universities worldwide. York U’s community is strong − 55,000 students, 7,000 faculty and staff, and more than 275,000 alumni.
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Media Contact:
Joanne Rider, York University Media Relations, 416-736-5593, jrider@yorku.ca
