Honorary Degrees

Honorary Degrees 1990 - Present

Please note: this list of honorary degrees is periodically updated. Additional information on degree recipients can be found in our convocation programs, which are scanned and available online at http://library2.smu.ca/handle/01/24829 and are also available in the University Archives.

Spring 2023 update

Name:	Degree:
Dr. Bob Dawson	Doctor  Of Civil Law, Honoris  Causa

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Winter 2023

Name:	Degree:
Dr. Stan Hartling	Doctor  Of Commerce, Honoris  Causa

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Spring 2022

Name:	Degree:
Dr. James Curleigh	Doctor  Of Commerce, Honoris  Causa
Dr. Roger Lewis	Doctor of  Letters,  Honoris  Causa
Dr. Bill Linton	Doctor  Of Commerce, Honoris  Causa
Dr. Karen Oldfield, QC	Doctor  Of Commerce, Honoris  Causa

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Fall 2021

Name:	Degree:
Dr. Michael McCain	Doctor  Of Commerce, Honoris  Causa

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 Winter 2020

Name:	Degree:
Dr. Gerry Mills	Doctor of  Civil  Law,  Honoris  Causa

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 Fall 2019

Name:	Degree:
Dr. John A. Young	Doctor of  Civil  Law,  Honoris  Causa
Dr. Gloria J. Borden	Doctor of  Civil  Law,  Honoris  Causa

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 Spring 2019

Name:	Degree:
Dr. Al MacPhee	Doctor  Of Commerce, Honoris  Causa
Dr. Senator Dan Christmas	Doctor of  Civil  Law,  Honoris  Causa
Dr. Her Excellency Lady Sandra Williams	Doctor of  Civil  Law,  Honoris  Causa
Dr. Padraig O’Malley	Doctor of  Civil  Law,  Honoris  Causa

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 Winter 2019

Name:	Degree:
Dr. Scott Armour McCrea	Doctor  Of Commerce, Honoris  Causa
Dr. Hope Swinimer	Doctor of Science, Honoris  Causa

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 Fall 2018

Name:	Degree:
Dr. Rustum Southwell	Doctor  Of Civil Law, Honoris  Causa

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 Spring 2018

Name:	Degree:
Dr. Dominic Barton	Doctor  Of Commerce, Honoris  Causa
Dr. Bernie Francis	Doctor of  Civil  Law,  Honoris  Causa
Dr. Paul Gauthier	Doctor of Science, Honoris  Causa
Dr. Robert (Rob) G. Steele	Doctor of Commerce, Honoris  Causa

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 Winter 2018

Name:	Degree:
Dr. Judy Dietz	Doctor of  Civil  Law,  Honoris  Causa
Dr. Melvin (Mel) Boutlier	Doctor of  Letters,  Honoris  Causa

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 September 2017

Name:	Degree:
Dr. Heather J. Armstrong (Commander) (Retired)	Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa
Dr. Ian G. McKay	Doctor of Civil Law, honoris causa

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 May 2017

Name:	Degree:
Dr. William Ritchie	Doctor of Commerce, Honoris Causa
Dr. Louise Bradley	Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa
Dr. Joseph Jabbra	Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa
Dr. John Fitzpatrick	Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa
Dr. Donald Julien	Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa

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 October 2016

Name:	Degree:
Dr. Joelle (Joey) Berdugo Adler	Doctor of Commerce, Honoris Causa
Dr. Thomas (Tim) Moore	Doctor of Commerce, Honoris Causa

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May 2016

Name:	Degree:
Dr. Douglas McGregor	Doctor of Commerce, Honoris Causa
Dr. Bassam Nahas	Doctor of Commerce, Honoris Causa
Dr. Kim Phuc Phan Thi	Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa
Dr. Maureen Reid	Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa
Dr. Pauline Scott	Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa
Dr. Annette Verschuren	Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa

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January 2016

Name:	Degree:
Dr. John Richard Bond	Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa
Dr. Colleen Mary Johnston	Doctor of Commerce, Honoris Causa

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October 2015

Name:	Degree:
Dr. Jean Paul Deveau	Doctor of Commerce, Honoris Causa
Dr. A. Wayne MacKay	Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa
Dr. Brian O’Brien	Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa

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May 2015

Name:	Degree:
Dr. Taleb Abidali	Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa
Dr. Monique Leroux	Doctor of Commerce, Honoris Causa
Dr. John McArthur	Doctor of Commerce, Honoris Causa
Dr. Terry O’Reilly	Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa
Dr. John Sullivan	Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa
Dr. Julie Toskan-Casale	Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa

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January 2015

Name:	Degree:
Dr. C. Mark Cleary	Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa
Dr. Claire Miller	Doctor of Letters, Honoris Causa
Dr. Gerry Pond	Doctor of Commerce, Honoris Causa
Dr. Michele Wood-Tweel, F.C.A.	Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa

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 October 2014

Name:	Degree:
Dr. Don Connolly	Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa
Dr. Rania Llewellyn	Doctor of Commerce, Honoris Causa
Dr. Fred MacGillivray	Doctor of Commerce, Honoris Causa

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May 2014

Name:	Degree:
Bonnie Brooks	Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa
Major-General Blaise Cathcart	Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa
Judith Irving	Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa
Dr. Ivar Mendez	Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa
Dr. Neil Turok	Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa

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January 2014

Name:	Degree:
Flemming, Brian	Doctor of Civil Law
Lecker, Sheri	Doctor of Civil Law

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 October 2013

Name:	Degree:
Toney-Shay Knockwood, Isabelle	Doctor of Civil Law
MacDonald, Colin	Doctor of Commerce
Mercer, Terry	Doctor of Civil Law

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May 2013

Name:	Degree:
Beker, Jeanne	Doctor of Civil Law
Robertson, Heather	Doctor of Commerce
Oliver, Donald	Doctor of Civil Law
Allan, Elyse	Doctor of Fine Arts
Medjuck, Ralph	Doctor of Civil Law

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January 2013

Name:	Degree:
Chris Power	Doctor of Civil Law
George Han Hwa Kwan	Doctor of Civil Law

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October 2012

Name:	Degree:
Besim Halef	Honorary Doctorate of Commerce
Gloria McCluskey	Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law
Edward McBride	Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law
Fred Smithers	Honorary Doctorate of Commerce

May 2012

Name:	Degree:
Robert Pace	Honorary Doctorate of Commerce
Dennis Deters	Honorary Doctor of Civil Law
Arlene Dickinson	Honorary Doctorate of Commerce
Mayann E. Francis	Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law
Jim Lotz	Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law
Stuart McLean	Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law

 

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January 2012

Name:	Degree:
Hayes, Lawrence (Larry) J.	Doctor of Civil Law
Riteman, Philip	Doctor of Civil Law

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October 2011

Name:	Degree:
George, Fred	Doctor of Commerce
Godsoe, Dale	Doctor of Civil Law
McCarthy, Danny	Doctor of Commerce

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May 2011

Name:	Degree:
Aucoin, Peter	Doctor of Civil Law
Dennis, Sarah	Doctor of Commerce
Gillis, Helen	Doctor of Civil Law
Hardy, Leica	Doctor of Fine Arts
Savoie, Donald	Doctor of Civil Law
Sobey, Paul D.	Doctor of Commerce

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October 2010

Name:	Degree:
Bennet, James	Honoris Causa
Moore, Jeff and Debra	Doctor of Civil Law

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May 2010

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Name:	Degree:
Durland, J. Michael	Doctor of Commerce
Dyer, Paul	Doctor of Commerce
Gilfoy, Neville	Doctor of Civil Law
Irving, Sandra	Doctor of Civil Law
Mongeau, Claude	Doctor of Commerce
Rowe, Patricia	Doctor of Science

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October 2009

Name:	Degree:
Dr. Frederic Wien	Doctor of Civil Law
Bernard Riordon	Doctor of Civil Law

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May 2009

Name:	Degree:
Armitage, Steve	Doctor of Civil Law
Fares, Wadih	Doctor of Commerce
Kinnear, James	Doctor of Commerce
Moore, Sister Dorothy	Doctor of Civil Law
Nutt, Samantha	Doctor of Civil Law
Swinemar, Dianne	Doctor of Civil Law

 

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October 2008

Name:	Degree:
Clarke, George Elliott	Doctor of Letters
de Chastelain, General John	Doctor of Civil Law
Young, Carol D.	Doctor of Civil Law

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May 2008

Name:	Degree:
Badawi, Jamal	Doctor of Civil Law
Donahoe, Arthur Richard	Doctor of Laws
Mooney, Gary	Doctor of Commerce
Smithers, Nancy	Doctor of Civil Law

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October 2007

Name:	Degree:
Borden, Walter	Doctor of Civil Law
Fairfax, Reverend Donald	Doctor of Civil Law
Moore, Hon. Wilfred P.	Doctor of Laws

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May 2007

Name:	Degree:
Duckworth, Muriel	Doctor of Civil Law
Freeman, Hon. Myra	Doctor of Civil Law
Grace, David	Doctor of Commerce
Hope, David	Doctor of Commerce
Leahey, Stephen	Doctor of Civil Law
Rae, Capt. Andrew	Doctor of Civil Law

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October 2006

Name:	Degree:
Chard, Elizabeth A.	Doctor of Civil Law
Deveau, Louis E.	Doctor of Commerce
McCreath, Hon. Peter L.	Doctor of Civil Law

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May 2006

Name:	Degree:
Belliveau, Robert G.	Doctor of Laws
Connolly, Patrick J.	Doctor of Civil Law
de Nerciat , Baroness May Man-Yue Sun	Doctor of Civil Law
Kennedy, Joseph P.	Doctor of Laws
MacDonald, Marjorie-Anne	Doctor of Letters
Roche, Douglas	Doctor of Civil Law

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October 2005

Name:	Degree:
MacDonald, Michael	Doctor of Commerce
Pobihushchy, Sid	Doctor of Civil Law
van Gurp, Hendrika M.	Doctor of Civil Law

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May 2005

Name:	Degree:
Clarke, Lorne O.	Doctor of Laws
Homburg, Richard	Doctor of Commerce
West, Anne	Doctor of Letters
Luckett, Pete	Doctor of Civil Law
Moorehead, Colleen	Doctor of Civil Law
Perinbam, Lewis	Doctor of Civil Law

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November 14, 2004

Name:	Degree:
F. Wayne Adams	Doctor of Civil Law
George L. Barron	Doctor of Science
Janet F. Kitz	Doctor of Letters
Chief Lawrence Paul	Doctor of Civil Law

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March 28, 2004

Name:	Degree:
Ken Dryden	Doctor of Civil Law

May 21, 2004

Name:	Degree:
Sara H. Basson	Doctor of Civil Law
Daniel M. Brownlow	Doctor of Civil Law
Burris Devanney	Doctor of Civil Law
Graham W. Dennis	Doctor of Civil Law
Frank J. Hayden	Doctor of Civil Law
Marjorie M. Scardino	Doctor of Commerce

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November 9, 2003

Name:	Degree:
Krishna Ahooja-Patel	Doctor of Letters
Malachi C. Jones	Doctor of Laws
Kenneth F. Moore	Doctor of Civil Laws

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June 5, 2003

Name:	Degree:
Mary Robinson	Doctor of Civil Laws

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May 23, 2003

Name:	Degree:
Harold G. Coward	Doctor of Civil Laws
Flora Isabel MacDonald	Doctor of Civil Laws
Carloyn S. Shoemaker	Doctor of Science
Luca Codignola	Doctor of Letters
J. Chalmers Doane	Doctor of Fine Arts
Nancy L. Knowlton	Doctor of Commerce

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May 24, 2002

Name:	Degree:
William J. Bryson SJ	Doctor of Civil Laws
John Savage	Doctor of Civil Laws
Simon Spatz	Doctor of Civil Laws
Phyllis Grosskurth	Doctor of Letters
Terence Kelly	Doctor of Fine Arts
James J. “Skip” Oliver	Doctor of Laws
Mansfield (Jim) Brock	Doctor of Commerce

October 27, 2002

Name:	Degree:
Hon. Alan Rockwell Abraham	Doctor of Civil Laws
Anne M. Fawcett	Doctor of Commerce
Daniele Sauvageau	Doctor of Civil Laws
Austin Willis	Doctor of Fine Arts

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October 21, 2001

Name:	Degree:
Cora de Jong Greenaway	Doctor of Fine Arts
John George Flemming	Doctor of Civil Laws
Paul M. Tellier	Doctor of Civil Laws

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October 4, 2001

Name:	Degree:
Jean Beliveau	Doctor of Civil Laws

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May 15, 2001

Name:	Degree:
Mary Ashworth	Doctor of Education
Terence Richard Boyd Donahoe	Doctor of Laws
Sara Lee Lewis	Doctor of Letters
Garnet Brown	Doctor of Commerce
E. Leo Kolber	Doctor of Laws
David Palmer Petrie	Doctor of Science

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October 22, 2000

Name:	Degree:
Elizabeth Ann Duggan	Doctor of Sciences
Constance R. Glube	Doctor of Laws
Hanan Mikhail-Ashrawi	Doctor of Civil Laws

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May 12, 2000

Name:	Degree:
Guy L. Noel	Doctor of Civil Laws
Terrance Michael Punch	Doctor of Letters
Bruce S. C. Oland	Doctor of Letters

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October 17, 1999

Name:	Degree:
A. Kevin Francis	Doctor of Commerce
Richard E. Franklin	Doctor of Commerce
Eligio M. Gaudio	Doctor of Commerce
Gao Shan	Doctor of Commerce
Irwin D. Simon	Doctor of Commerce
Grace White	Doctor of Commerce

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May 13, 1999

Name:	Degree:
Scott D. Tremaine	Doctor of Science
C. William Eliot	Doctor of Letters
Doane Hallett	Doctor of Laws
Martha L. Jodrey	Doctor of Education

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October 25, 1998

Name:	Degree:
Tadashi Okudaira	Doctor of Education

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October 9, 1998

Name:	Degree:
Mary McAleese	Doctor of Civil Laws

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May 11, 1998

Name:	Degree:
Edward John Flinn	Doctor of Laws
Linda Carvery	Doctor of Letters
Sheree Lynn Fitch	Doctor of Letters
Sherman Hines	Doctor of Letters
John G. Keith	Doctor of Commerce

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October 19, 1997

Name:	Degree:
John Amagoalik	Doctor of Civil Law
Jack Buckley	Doctor of Civil Law
Diane Marie Francis	Doctor of Commerce
Linda Moore	Doctor of Letters

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May 12, 1997

Name:	Degree:
I. King Jordan	Doctor of Civil Laws
Robert P. Kelly	Doctor of Commerce
Tomas B. Berry	Doctor of Letters
Douglas Fetherling	Doctor of Letters

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October 20, 1996

Name:	Degree:
P. Michael Maher	Doctor of Commerce
Diane E. McGarry	Doctor of Commerce
J. Phillip Vaughan	Doctor of Science

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May 15, 1996

Name:	Degree:
J. Bruce MacKinnon	Doctor of Letters
Donald Graham Tremaine	Doctor of Civil Laws
Louis R. Comeau	Doctor of Commerce
Vigdis Finnbogadottir	Doctor of Civil Law
Leo Margolis	Doctor of Science

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October 22, 1995

Name:	Degree:
R. Irene d’Entremont	Doctor of Commerce
Ron Wallace	Doctor of Civil Laws

May 12, 1995

Name:	Degree:
Sylvia D. Hamilton	Doctor of Letters
Frank Stronach	Doctor of Commerce
R. David Thomas	Doctor of Commerce
Sidney van den Bergh	Doctor of Sciences
V. Maureen Kempston Darkes	Doctor of Commerce
Hector Jacques	Doctor of Commerce

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October 23, 1994

Name:	Degree:
William Sefton Fyfe	Doctor of Science
Bridglal Pachai	Doctor of Civil Law
Denis Joseph Patrick Ryan	Doctor of Laws
Judith Mary Sapp	Doctor of Civil Laws

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May 9, 1994

Name:	Degree:
Sister Evelyn Rae Purdy Pollard	Doctor of Letters
Ronald Wan Hay Wong	Doctor of Civil Law
Clarence Eugene "Hank" Snow	Doctor of Laws

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October 24, 1993

Name:	Degree:
Louise Frechette	Doctor of Laws
Lewis Whaeton MacKenzie	Doctor of Civil Laws
Margaret Elizabeth McCully	Doctor of Sciences
Surendra J. Patel	Doctor of Laws

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May 12, 1993

Name:	Degree:
Cheung Tsang Chung	Doctor of Commerce
Richard Marvin Hansen	Doctor of Civil Laws
Ron V. Joyce	Doctor of Commerce
Jane Shaw Law	Doctor of Letters
Louise Lore	Doctor of Letters

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October 25, 1992

Name:	Degree:
Philip Alfred Buckner	Doctor of Letters
Ovide W. Mercredi	Doctor of Civil Laws
Eric Peter Milledge	Doctor of Commerce
Jeannine Guillevin Wood	Doctor of Commerce

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May 11, 1992

Name:	Degree:
Matthew William Barrett	Doctor of Commerce
Roberta Lynn Bondar	Doctor of Sciences
Nelly Beveridge Gray	Doctor of Letters
Anna Porter	Doctor of Letters

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October 20, 1991

Name:	Degree:
William Andrew Dimma	Doctor of Commerce
Lydia Pauline Makhubu	Doctor of Laws
Patrick G. Malone	Doctor of Laws

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May 13, 1991

Name:	Degree:
Frank Baldwin	Doctor of Civil Laws
Naomi Hersom	Doctor of Civil Laws
Gerhard Herzberg	Doctor of Science
David F. Sobey	Doctor of Commerce