UVic will recognize 14 outstanding leaders in business, economics, law, science and the arts at its 46th Convocation June 1, 2, and 3.The degrees will be conferred by The Hon. Robert G. Rogers, UVic¹s Chancellor.
Victoria businessman and owner of CFAX radio, Mel Cooper, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree. A native of Newfoundland, he moved to Vancouver in 1945 and graduated from UBC. Cooper is an active supporter of the arts and children¹s charities, including the Victoria¹s Santas Anonymous Society which he founded in the mid 1970s. He is a Member of the Order of Canada and was a key member of the Canadian Bid Committee that won the bid to bring 1994 Commonwealth Games to Victoria. Cooper will receive his degree on June 1 at 9:30 a.m.
Carole Sabiston, noted Victoria fabric artist who designed the Commonwealth Cape of Many Hands, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree. Sabiston¹s works, which involve large scale wall hangings, banners and three-dimensional space sculptures, hang in residential, public and corporate buildings across Canada, the U.S., England and Sapin. In 1992, she received the Order of British Columbia. During the Commonwealth Games last August, The Commonwealth Cape of Many Hands was presented to the host committee of the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia following Commonwealth Games tradition. Sabiston will receive her degree on June 1 at 9:30 a.m.
Li-teh Hsu, a respected Taiwanese scholar, lawyer, public servant and statesman will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree. A former professor of administration and business management, he has published a number of books including Position Classification: Theory and Practice and How to be a good Director. Hsu received an MA in public administration from Harvard University in 1985. He was chair and co-founder of China-Canada Investment Development Limited and is active in promoting mutual trade and investment between Canada and Taiwan. Hsu will receive his degree on June 1 at 9:30 p.m.
Dr.Janet Halliwell will receive an Honorary Doctor of Science degree. Chair of the Nova Scotia Council on Higher Education and former director general of research grants for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Halliwell has a background in post-secondary education policy and management, research adminsitration and science and technology policy. She is currently acting as intermediary between the government and universities of Nova Scotia to bring about the restructuing of the province¹s university system. Halliwell will receive her degree on June 1 at 2 p.m.
Dr. Michael Smith will receive an Honorary Doctor of Science degree. Smith received the 1993 Nobel Chemistry Prize for his work in genetic research. He is generally recognized as the father of site-directed mutagenesis, a technique which allows gene sequences to be altered in a designated fashion, widely used in probing the role of genes. The popular speaker and philanthropist donated his $500,000 prize to schizophrenia research and promoting women in science. Smith is Director of the Biotechnology Laboratory and professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at UBC. He will receive his degree on June 1 at 2 p.m.
Gordon R. Cunningham, CEO of London Life, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree. Cunningham has a strong involvement with the Asia Pacific region and did much as a member of the Business Council on National Issues to highlight the economic benefits of trade with the region. He is also a strong supporter of the arts through the London Life corporate art collection, the London Life Young Contemporaries art exhibition and through the company¹s support of cultural organizations such as the Stratford Festival and Vancouver Symphony. Cunningham will receive his degree on June 2 at 9:30 a.m.
Dr. Roslyn Kunin, economist, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree on June 2 at 2 p.m. Kunin is an author and has taught at UBC, Simon Fraser University and the University of Guelph. A consulting economist, Kunin has served on many boards including the Board of Governors of UBC and the Economic Advisory Commission of the City of Vancouver. Currently, she is the executive director of the Laurier Institute in Vancouver.
Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws. The Body Shop is an international business with more than 1,000 stores in 43 countries. An active environmentalist, Roddick supports many social causes around the world and is famous for her non-traditional approach to business and her outspoken views on the issue of not testing cosmetics on animals. The Body Shop has been named Company of the Year in Britain and Roddick is a member of the Order of the British Empire. She will receive her degree on June 2 at 9:30 a.m.
Former Lieutenant-Governor The Honorable David Lam and Mrs. Dorothy Lam will receive Honorary Doctors of Laws degree. Dr. Lam was Lieutenant-Governor of B.C. from 1988 to 1995. The couple are active philanthropists and Her Honour is patron of a number of organizations including the Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific, Bastion Theatre Company and the Vancouver Opera. The Lams will receive their degrees on June 2 at 2 p.m.
An Honorary Doctor of Laws degree will be conferred on The Hon. William McIntyre, retired Victoria lawyer, jurist and former justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, who helped shape the Canadian Charter of Rights. McIntyre will receive his degree at 9:30 a.m. on June 3.
Film director, Arthur Hiller will receive an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree. An Alberta native, Hiller has a masters degree in psychology from the University of Toronto and attended law school at UBC, before moving into theatre. He began his career with the CBC, but moved to Hollywood where he directed such films as Plaza Suite, Love Story and Man of La Mancha. He is currently serving his second term as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts. Hiller will receive his degree on June 3 at 9:30 a.m.
David Foster, award-winning musician, producer and founder of the David Foster Foundation which assists families of children who require organ transplants will receive an Honorary Doctor of Music. Foster has won 12 Grammy Awards, been named Producer of the Year four times and has received four Juno awards from the Canadian music and television industry. In 1988, he received the Order of Canada. Foster will receive his degree at the ceremony on June 3 at 2 p.m. He will also perform at the ceremony.
Judith Forst, the B.C.-born opera singer, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Music. Forst made her professional debut in Cavalleria Rusticana with the Vancouver Opera then moved to the Metropolitan Opera after winning local and regional auditions. She has performed across North America and Europe and now makes her home in Port Moody, B.C. In 1992, she was inducted into the Order of Canada. Forst will receive her degree at the ceremony on June 3 at 2 p.m. She will also sing at the ceremony.
Honorary Degree Recipients University of Victoria Spring Convocation June 1, 2, 3 June 1: 9:30 a.m. Mr. Mel Cooper, Doctor of Laws Mr. Li-Teh Hsu, Doctor of Laws (will deliver Convocation Address) Ms. Carole Sabiston, Doctor of Fine Arts 2 p.m. Dr. Janet Halliwell, Doctor of Science Dr. Michael Smith, Doctor of Science (will deliver Convocation Address) June 2: 9:30 a.m. Mr. Gordon Cunningham, Doctor of Laws Dr. Roslyn Kunin, Doctor of Laws (will deliver Convocation Address) Ms. Anita Roddick, Doctor of Laws 2 p.m. The Honorable David C. Lam, Doctor of Laws (will deliver Convocation Address) Mrs. Dorothy Tan Lam, Doctor of Laws June 3: 9:30 a.m. Mr. Arthur Hiller, Doctor of Fine Arts The Hon. William McIntyre, Doctor of Laws (will deliver Convocation Address) 2 p.m. Mr. David Foster, Doctor of Music (will perform at ceremony) Ms. Judith Forst, Doctor of Music (will perform at ceremony) For more information contact Teresa Moore (PRIS) Information Officer at 721-7642.