Spring convocation includes chancellor's installation, nearly 3,700 grads

Shelagh Rogers formally becomes the University of Victoria’s 11th chancellor during an installation ceremony at the start of Spring Convocation (2:30 p.m., June 8) in the University Centre Farquhar Auditorium.

A widely respected CBC radio journalist, Rogers will take her oath from Honourable Judith Guichon, Lieutenant Governor of BC, and Chancellor emeritus Murray Farmer will invest Rogers in her ceremonial robes, with delegates from other universities in attendance.

Rogers hosts and produces The Next Chapter, a weekly CBC program about Canadian writers and songwriters. She is an officer of the Order of Canada for her support of Canadian culture and for her volunteer efforts for mental health and literacy. She is also an honorary witness for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Spring Convocation marks the successful completion of studies for 3,649 recipients of degrees, diplomas, professional specialization certificates, and certificates. As well, UVic will grant four honorary degrees during convocation week, June 8 to 12:

Ruby Dunstan, Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD), June 9 at 10 a.m.

Ruby Dunstan is a dynamic community leader and advocate for the environment, education and the culture of the Lytton First Nation in the Southern Interior. She fought to protect the Stein Valley from logging and helped to negotiate the 1995 creation of the Stein Valley Nlaka’pamux Heritage Provincial Park. A survivor of St. George’s residential school, she drew attention to the abuses of the residential school system in her community. She helped save the Stein Valley Nlakpapmux School (where students will watch her honorary degree presentation online). Dunstan was the first woman to be chief of the Lytton First Nation.

Don Drummond, Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD), June 9 at 2:30 p.m.

Don Drummond, BA ’76 (Economics), is an economist whose career has been guided by a vision for a Canada that is fiscally strong, educated and inclusive. As associate deputy minister of finance in the 1990s, Drummond helped to eliminate federal budget deficits. Later, as chief economist at TD Financial Group, Drummond became an influential commentator on domestic and international economic affairs. More recently, he chaired the Commission on the Reform of Ontario’s Public Services.

Hon. Lance Finch, Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD), June 10 at 2:30 p.m.

Hon. Lance Finch is the retired chief justice of British Columbia and Yukon Territory, a position he held from 2001-2013. His approach to justice is characterized by wisdom, compassion, and concern for the law and its impact on the less advantaged. Finch studied at Victoria College before completing undergraduate and law degrees at UBC. He has been outspoken about challenges related to access to justice and has urged the law community to share more responsibility for helping those who can’t afford legal services.

Dr. Nassif Ghoussoub, Honorary Doctor of Science (DSc), June 12 at 2:30 p.m.

Dr. Nassif Ghoussoub is a world-leading mathematician and builder of Canadian networks for the support of education and research in the mathematical sciences. He is the founder of the Pacific Institute for Mathematical Sciences (PIMS), the Banff International Research Station (BIRS), and a co-founder of Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems (MITACS). Ghoussoub, a UBC math professor, is a world leader in the field of partial differential equations.

All nine spring convocation ceremonies will be webcast live at uvic.ca/convocation.

Note: Chancellor Shelagh Rogers will be available for media interviews June 8 between 1:30 p.m. and 1:50 p.m. at the stage door entrance to the Farquhar Auditorium.

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