Three extraordinary people to receive honorary degrees at the U of R’s Spring 2023 Convocation next month
Mark McMorris will be awarded a Honorary Doctor of Laws honoris causa (LLD) on Wednesday, June 14 in recognition of his incredible athletic accomplishments as one of the most successful competitive snowboarders in history. The honour is also an acknowledgement of his service to the community through the McMorris Foundation, which he established with his brother Craig to help disadvantaged Canadian children participate in sports.
Gloria Mehlmann will be awarded a Honorary Doctor of Letters honoris causa (DLitt) on Thursday, June 15, in recognition of outstanding achievement in the humanities or literature. Born on the Cowessess First Nation, Mehlmann taught in the Regina Public School system, and served as director of Aboriginal Education for Saskatchewan where she oversaw the integration of Indigenous perspectives and content into the K-12 curriculum. Mehlmann is also an accomplished author whose works reflect her experience as an Indigenous person growing up and living in Saskatchewan.
Gary Drummond will be awarded a Honorary Doctor of Laws honoris causa (LLD) on Friday June 16 in recognition of his career as a business and community leader. Drummond has been involved in a wide variety of entrepreneurial ventures including real estate, farming, an ethanol plant, brew pubs, oil and gas companies, and was founding partner of an investment group that purchased and operated the National Hockey League’s Phoenix Coyotes, serving as the team’s president for three years.
“We look forward to honouring these extraordinary citizens, all of whom have close ties to Regina and two of whom are alumni of the University,” said President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Jeff Keshen. “These outstanding people have contributed much to their respective fields and continue making their communities better for everyone.”
Convocation ceremonies will be held at 2 p.m. on each of the three days in the Gymnasium in the Centre for Kinesiology & Health Studies.
Each of the recipients will be made available to media on the day their honorary degree is being awarded. Additional details will be provided closer to the date.
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Set in the heart of the Canadian prairies we are a comprehensive, mid-sized university where the opportunities are as limitless as the horizon. Our campuses are on Treaty 4 and 6 - the territories of the nêhiyawak, Anihšināpēk, Dakota, Lakota, and Nakoda peoples, and the homeland of the Michif/Métis nation. It is our responsibility to strengthen relationships with Indigenous communities to build a more inclusive future for all. Our three federated colleges, 10 faculties, 25 academic departments, and 18 research centres foster innovative research with practical and theoretical applications. We are committed to cultivating the potential of our 16,700 students and supporting their health and well-being. We take learning beyond the classroom through work and volunteer experiences to develop career-ready graduates.
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