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Laurentian University Recognizes four eminent Canadians in 2014

Laurentian University Recognizes four eminent Canadians in 2014

Michaëlle Jean, Bruce Cockburn among Honourary Doctorate recipients

June 2nd, 2014 – Canada’s 27th Governor-General, Michaëlle Jean, and renowned singer-songwriter and activist Bruce Cockburn are among the recipients of Honourary Doctorates at Spring Convocation ceremonies at Laurentian University this year. 

Laurentian University Chancellor Steve Paikin presented the Honoris Causa (Laws) to Mme Jean at the Convocation ceremony in Barrie, May 28th.  In her Convocation address, Mme Jean spoke to graduates about the value of education and the importance of close collaborations across cultures, languages and individual differences.

“The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean has been an extraordinary role model for many people throughout her career,” said Chancellor Paikin.  “She has shown exceptional courage and dedication and, always, a tremendous amount of heart.  We look up to her, as do so many other Canadians.” 

Honourary Doctorates will also be awarded at Convocation ceremonies on the Sudbury campus, taking place from June 2nd to June 6th.

June 5th, 2014, at 10:00 a.m.

  • Blaine Nicholls, Doctorate of Laws: Blaine Nicholls was an early proponent and an influential force in the establishment of the Laurentian University School of Architecture.  He was chair of the original Northern Ontario School of Architecture community commmittee and then served on the School of Architecture project steering committee.  Former senior partner at the Sudbury architectural firm Nicholls Yallowega Bélanger Architects/Architectes, Mr. Nicholls has retired from practice and remains an active supporter of Laurentian Architecture. His family has also made a significant donation to create scholarships for Architecture students.

June 6th, 2014, at 10:00 a.m.

  • Masha Krupp, Doctorate of Letters: Masha Krupp is President and CEO of Ottawa-based The Masha Krupp Translation Group Ltd, Canada’s largest and most successful privately-held translation management firm. Born in Sudbury and raised in nearby Markstay, Ms. Krupp earned a Bachelor’s degree in French and Russian from Laurentian University and went on to found a thriving company that now employs close to 100 full-time salaried staff and 85 associate contractors.  She is a champion of the Franco-Ontarian community and an important role model for female entrepreneurs, devoting her time to mentoring the next generation of business leaders.

June 6th, 2014, at 2:30 p.m.

  • Bruce Cockburn, Doctorate of Letters: Winner of a Governor-General’s Performing Arts Award and 13 Juno Awards, Bruce Cockburn has released more than 30 albums over a career spanning four decades.  As a folk-rock singer-songwriter, he has performed in venues around the world and continues to tour widely, while his songs have been covered by many artists, including Judy Collins, Jimmy Buffet, K. D. Lang, Chet Atkins, Maria Muldaur and Jerry Garcia.  Mr. Cockburn is also renowned as a humanitarian and activist.  He has served as an international representative of aid agency OXFAM and has been deeply involved with the global campaign to ban landmines, carrying out advocacy work in countries such as Mozambique and Cambodia.   In 2002, Mr. Cockburn was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame for his powerful lyrics and his immense contribution to Canadian music.  He is an Officer of the Order of Canada.

“Each of our Honourary Doctorate recipients this year is an outstanding achiever, and each has contributed so much, in their respective spheres,” said Laurentian University President and Vice-Chancellor Dominic Giroux. “We are are proud to call them members of our university community.” 

Laurentian honours former Governor-General Michaëlle Jean

Laurentian honours former Governor-General Michaëlle Jean

Jean receives Honourary Doctorate at Convocation ceremony in Barrie


May 28, 2014 – Canada’s 27th Governor-General, the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean was today awarded an Honourary Doctorate (Laws) at Laurentian University’s Spring Convocation for graduates of programs in Barrie, Ontario. The Honourary Doctorate was presented by Laurentian University Chancellor Steve Paikin.

“The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean has been an extraordinary role model for many people throughout her career,” said Paikin. “She has shown exceptional courage and dedication and, always, a tremendous amount of heart. We look up to her, as do so many other Canadians.” 
Michaelle Jean

Born in Port-au-Prince, Mme Jean fled Haiti with her family in 1968 and came to Canada, settling in the community of Thetford Mines, Québec. She earned degrees in modern languages and literature at the University of Montréal, and pursued language studies at universities in Italy. She worked with organizations involved with immigration and wrote about the experiences of immigrant women in Canada. Later, she began a successful career at Radio-Canada and became one of the country’s most recognized and respected journalists. She anchored news and current affairs programs on both French- and English-language television networks, and also produced documentary films.

In 2005, Michaëlle Jean became the first Canadian of Caribbean origin to serve as Governor- General. During her term, she led 40 missions and state visits to countries around the world, and also navigated the potential constitutional crisis that ended with the prorogation of Parliament in 2008. She served in the vice-regal position until 2010, and soon after her term she was named Special Envoy to Haiti by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Mme Jean is also Founder and Co-Director of the Michaëlle Jean Foundation, a charitable organization that promotes and supports youth arts initiatives that “tranform young lives and revitalize underserved communities”  

Mme Jean is a Companion of the Order of Canada (CC) and has won numerous awards, including the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) Canada Award; Prix Anik for best information reporting in Canada; and the inaugural Amnesty International Canada Journalism Award. The Assemblée internationale des parlementaires de langue française bestowed upon her the Ordre des Chevaliers de La Pléiade. She was recently conferred the Grand Cross, the highest dignity from the order of the Legion of Honour of the French Republic. In addition, the Universities Fighting World Hunger international network oversees the new Michaëlle Jean Award.

“Both in her professional life and through her commitment to public service, Mme Jean has been a truly inspirational figure to Canadians,” said Dominic Giroux, President and Vice-Chancellor Laurentian University. “We are honoured to call her a member of the Laurentian University community.”