Simon Fraser University presented ten prominent citizens with honorary degrees at its 2013 June and October convocation ceremonies:
Shabana Azmi | Barry Downs | Michael Ingham | Jack Lee and Terry Lee | Andy MacKinnon | Kelvin Ogilvie | Christine Sinclair | Michael Stevenson | John Webb
Shabana Azmi is an award-winning actor and a member of India’s Parliament since 1997, who is a passionate advocate for the rights of women, minorities and displaced slum dwellers. A vocal supporter of India’s secular liberal values, she also holds a Gandhi International Peace Prize. The degree of Doctor of Fine Arts, honoris causa, was conferred on Dr. Azmi on Wednesday, June 12 at the 2:30 pm ceremony.
Dr. Azmi's citation
Dr. Azmi's convocation address
Michael Ingham, Bishop of the Diocese of New Westminster, is the first Bishop in the worldwide Anglican Communion to authorize the blessing of same-sex unions. The degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, was conferred on The Right Reverend Ingham on Friday, June 14 at the 2:30 pm ceremony.
Dr. Ingham's citation
Dr. Ingham's convocation address
Andy MacKinnon is a research ecologist with the BC Forest Service, an SFU adjunct professor in resource and environmental management, and the co-author of six best-selling field guides to plants of western North America. The degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa, was conferred on Dr. MacKinnon on Friday, June 14 at the 9:45 am
Dr. MacKinnon's citation
Dr. MacKinnon's convocation address
Christine Sinclair is a two-time Olympian who led the Canadian women’s soccer team to a bronze medal in the 2012 Olympics, and has been named as one of the 25 most influential people in Canadian sport. The degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, was conferred on Dr. Sinclair on Friday, October 11 at the 2:30 pm ceremony.
Dr. Sinclair's citation
Dr. Sinclair's convocation address
John Webb is the director of interventional cardiology at St. Paul’s Hospital, who pioneered one of the most important advances in heart disease in the last 25 years—the non-surgical transcatheter replacement of diseased heart valves. The degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa, was conferred on Dr. Webb on Thursday, October 10 at the 9:45 am ceremony.
Barry Downs, architect and founder of DA Architects and Partners, pioneered the architectural style known as ‘west coast modernism’. Among his most notable projects are Pearson College, Kwantlen University, the Vancouver Library, the new Vancouver communities of Champlain Heights and False Creek, and the former Expo 86 site. The degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, was conferred on Dr. Downs on Tuesday, June 11 at the 2:30 pm ceremony.
Dr. Down's citation
Dr. Down's convocation address
Brothers Jack Lee, SFU Pipe Band pipe-sergeant and Terry Lee, SFU Pipe Band pipe-major, are two of the world’s most accomplished bagpipers. They have spent the past 30 years developing and leading the SFU Pipe Band to six world championships. The degree of Doctor of Fine Arts, honoris causae, was conferred on the brothers on Thursday, June 13 at the 2:30 pm ceremony.
Citation for Dr. Lee and Dr. Lee
Convocation address for Dr. Lee and Dr. Lee
Kelvin Ogilvie is a Canadian Senator and past president of Acadia University. A member of the Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame, he developed the Gene Machine—an automated process for manufacturing DNA, and invented Ganciclovir, a drug used worldwide to fight infections that occur in weakened immune systems. The degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa, was conferred on Senator Ogilvie on Thursday, June 13 at the 9:45 am ceremony.
Dr. Ogilvie's citation
Dr. Ogilvie's convocation address
Michael Stevenson, political scientist and president emeritus of Simon Fraser University, led an ambitious program of organizational change and development at SFU that included a $500-million expansion of campus facilities. The degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, was conferred on Dr. Stevenson on Thursday, October 10 at the 2:30 pm
Dr. Stevenson's citation
Dr. Stevenson's convocation address
