A former prime minister, London’s first female mayor and a longtime leader of Canada’s aboriginal communities are among 10 distinguished individuals who will receive honorary degrees from The University of Western Ontario.
Paul Martin was Canada’s 21st prime minister, a man credited with engineering an economic turnaround that eliminated deficit financing and placed Canada in a position to better withstand the current economic recession.
Jane Bigelow was became London’s first female mayor in 1972 and held the position until 1978. Described as a feminist and social activist, Bigelow brought her keen interest in environmental issues, expanded civic participation and the arts and public transit to the top post in London.
Phil Fontaine served for three terms as head of the Assembly of First Nations and continues to provide consulting and mediation services.
The spring Convocation ceremonies take place June 14-18.
Honorary degree recipients will deliver presentations on the following days:
Paul Thompson
Monday, June 14, 10 a.m.
Doctor of Literature, honoris causa (D.Litt.)
Considered a leader of the cultural Nationalist movement in Canadian theatre, Thompson is the co-founder of Toronto’s prestigious Theatre Passe Muraille and also served as Director General of the National Theatre School of Canada.
Janet Storch
Monday, June 14, 3:30 p.m.
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa (LL.D.)
The world’s foremost nursing ethicist, Storch is Professor Emeritus and former Professor and Director of the University of Victoria’s School of Nursing. She currently serves as Chair of Health Canada’s Research Ethics Board.
Gloria Gutman
Tuesday, June 15, 10 a.m.
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa (LL.D.)
An international authority in the field of gerontology, Gutman developed and directed both the Simon Fraser University Gerontology Research Centre and its Gerontology department from 1982 to 2005.
Phil Fontaine
Tuesday, June 15, 3:30 p.m.
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa (LL.D.)
From 1997 to 2009, Fontaine served an unprecedented three terms in office as National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations. In 2009, he established Ishkonigan Inc., a consulting and mediation firm that provides professional management and advisory services to indigenous communities, governments and the private sector.
Richard Gregory
Wednesday, June 16, 10 a.m.
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa (LL.D.)
A world renowned perception psychologist, the 86-year old Gregory is Professor Emeritus of Neuropsychology at the University of Bristol. In 1978, he founded the Exploratory, considered the first “hands-on” science centre for use by the public.
Alice Gast
Wednesday, June 16, 3:30 p.m.
Doctor of Science, honoris causa (D. Sc.)
The first female president in the history of Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Gast, who specializes in surface science and interfacial phenomena, is a chemical engineer.
Jane Bigelow
Thursday, June 17, 10 a.m.
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa (LL.D.)
The first woman to be elected Mayor of London (1972-78), Bigelow is now an active participant in a wide range of community organizations including the Sexual Assault Centre, the Society for Learning in Retirement and the Women’s History Project.
Jim Silcox Doctor of Laws, honoris causa (LL.D.)
Thursday, June 17, 3:30 p.m.
A professor emeritus in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Silcox is the acting Associate Dean for Schulich’s Windsor Program. He was instrumental in the creation of the South Western Ontario Medical Education Network.
The Right Honourable Paul Martin
Friday, June 18, 10 a.m.
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa (LL.D.)
Martin was the 21st Prime Minister of Canada from 2003 to 2006 and the Federal Minister of Finance from 1993 to 2002. During his tenure as Minister of Finance, he erased a $42-billion deficit in four years, subsequently recording five consecutive budget surpluses. Currently, he leads The Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative which aims at reducing the Aboriginal youth dropout rate and at increasing the number of Aboriginal students attending post-secondary institutions.
Arkadi Kuhlmann
Friday, June 18, 3:30 p.m.
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa (LL.D.)
Kuhlmann is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ING Direct Bancorp, the parent company of ING DIRECT in the United States. With over 20 years of executive experience, Kuhlmann is considered one of the world’s most important business thinkers, putting forward new approaches to business strategies and management.