Nov 17, 2000
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THE UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA Nov 17, 2000 |
| More then 1,300 new graduates, Canada’s Supreme Court Chief Justice, and a well-known B.C. community leader will be special guests of honour at the University of Victoria’s fall convocation on Saturday, Nov. 25. The spotlight will also shine on UVic’s new president, who will be officially installed at the start of the first convocation ceremony (see story). During the three convocation ceremonies, UVic Chancellor Dr. Norma Mickelson will award undergraduate and graduate degrees as follows:
At the 12:30 p.m. ceremony, an honorary doctor of laws degree will be conferred on Ron Lou-Poy, a distinguished member of the B.C. legal profession who has dedicated his free time to community service, especially in the areas of arts, culture and education. Lou-Poy has donated his energy and expertise to many community groups, including the Victoria Kiwanis Club, the McPherson Foundation, the City of Victoria Police Board, the Chamber of Commerce and the Commonwealth Games. He’s also well-known for providing free legal advice to various Chinese cultural, fraternal and benevolent organizations. A graduate of Victoria College, Lou-Poy served on UVic’s board of governors for five years and on the board of directors of the Innovation and Development Corporation. At the 3:30 p.m. ceremony, an honorary doctor of laws degree will by awarded to Beverley McLachlin, Canada’s first female Supreme Court Chief Justice, who has written some of the most significant judgments in Canadian law in areas such as equality rights, evidence, trusts and damages for personal injuries. After earning a law degree from the University of Alberta in 1968, McLachlin practised and taught law for several years before beginning her meteoric rise to the top of Canada’s legal profession — Supreme Court of B.C. (1981), Court of Appeal for B.C. (1985), Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of B.C (1988) and the Supreme Court of Canada (1989). She continues to contribute to legal education through lectures and published articles. She was named Canada’s Chief Justice in January. |