More than 6,700 graduates will cross the stage and six global leaders will receive honorary degrees at Canada Life Place from June 9 to 13 during Western’s spring convocation ceremonies.
Convocation has temporarily moved to downtown London, Ont., with Western transforming Dundas Place into a festive, purple and proud space for graduates and their friends and families. Volunteers from the campus community, including more than 500 faculty members, staff and students, are working to make the convocation celebration possible.
Along with the graduates, more than 33,000 guests are expected to attend convocation at Canada Life Place over the course of the week. Nine ceremonies will be held at the downtown venue.
Western has partnered with London Transit to offer free bus rides to and from campus. Graduates and guests can board buses from any stop on campus when they show a convocation ticket.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHqSyX75o3Q&t=15s
The Class of 2025 includes more than 8,000 Western students graduating this spring. They now join the network of 372,000 alumni around the world.
Western News is celebrating convocation by featuring some of this year’s graduates:
Convocation
Inaugural class takes its place in the world
From a young age, Gracia Mabaya knew she wanted to play a role in improving health care and living conditions around the world. Growing up in the Democratic Republic of Congo, she watched other children dying from what should have been preventable diseases. For her, a...
Urquhart: Unplug, unschedule, enjoy
Graduates must take the time to explore the world unchained from modern technologies, Jane Urquhart, one of Canada’s best loved authors, said at the Friday afternoon session of Western’s 304th Convocation. Urquhart spoke to graduates from the faculties of Arts &...
D’Aquino: Door to opportunity is as wide as it gets
Despite its challenges, our world is one of unparalleled promise and opportunity, Thomas D’Aquino, lawyer, entrepreneur and educator, told graduates at the Friday morning session of Western’s 304th Convocation. D’Aquino spoke to graduates from the Faculty of Health...
Abella: Don’t let recent events muddy tolerant waters
Canada needs today’s graduates, their ideas and their contributions, to protect the country’s cultural mosaic, Irving Abella, eminent historian and president of the Academy of the Arts and Humanities of the Royal Society of Canada, told graduates at the Thursday...
Munroe-Blum: Learn to succeed, shed fear of failure
Graduates must prepare for failure on the path to success, Heather Munroe-Blum, a distinguished academic administrator and scholar, told graduates from King’s University College, Information and Media Studies and Social Science at the Thursday morning session of...
Four to receive honorary degrees from Western
The incoming chairperson of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, a former president of the Canadian Jewish Congress, one of Canada's most influential policy strategists and an award-winning Canadian author will receive honorary degrees when Western hosts its...
Pearson: Our most powerful office is the individual citizen
The individual is the most powerful force of change, Executive Director of the London Food Bank Glen Pearson told graduates at the Wednesday, June 18 afternoon session of Western’s 303rd Convocation. “The individual matters – and what you do individually matters,”...
Anderson: Three cheers to Van Fleet
Just wanted to say how pleased I was to see the university award the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service to Jan Van Fleet, former secretary to the Senate and Board (Van Fleet awarded President’s Medal for Distinguished Service, June 5).
Barney: Strive hard to unfold the gifts given to you
Graduates must celebrate their roots and capitalize on all they can from their heritage, Robert Barney, one of the world’s foremost authorities on the Olympic Games, told graduates at the Tuesday, June 17 afternoon session of Western’s 303rd Convocation. “Be mindful...
Allaster: Create a world of equality in opportunity for all
Gender parity is not a women’s issue – it is an economic issue that impacts Canada’s competitiveness and prosperity, businesswoman Stacey Allaster, BA’85, MBA’00, told graduates at the Monday, June 16, afternoon session of Western’s 303rd Convocation. “Our country is...
Adair: Embrace arts as a way of understanding the world
A solid background in the arts can prepare a person for success in life, Supreme Court judge Madam Justice Elaine Adair, BMus’73, MMus’78, told graduates at the Monday, June 16, morning session of Western’s 303rd Convocation. Her studies in music and philosophy at...
Mercer: Time to get out there, and fix my country
There are endless opportunities for today’s graduates, comedian Rick Mercer told graduates from the Faculty of Education and the School of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies at the Friday, June 13, morning session of Western’s 303rd Convocation. “At this point in...