MONTREAL/June 7, 2001—
Six distinguished individuals will receive honorary degrees at Concordia University's spring convocation ceremonies to be held on June 11 and 12.
The recipients are Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour, Dr. Geoffrey Ballard, a scientist who has spent close to 30 years working on alternative energy sources, professor and author Dr. Henry Mintzberg who is known for his pioneering work in the field of strategic management, Shirley Thomson, director of the Canada Council for the Arts, Robert Savoie, co-founder of l'OpÈra de Montrèal, and Lionel Hurtubise, chairman and CEO of Ericsson Canada Inc.
Some 3,400 graduates will receive degrees, diplomas or certificates from Concordia's four Faculties and the School of Graduate Studies.
This year, five ceremonies will be held at the Molson Centre, 1260 de la GauchetiËre W. The events will take place as follows:
FACULTY OF ARTS AND SCIENCE FACULTY OF FINE ARTS
Monday, June 11, at 10 am Tuesday, June 12, at 3 pm
Molson Centre Molson Centre
Honorand: Dr. Geoffrey Ballard Honorands: Shirley Thomson
and Robert Savoie
FACULTY OF ARTS AND SCIENCE FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND
Monday, June 11, at 1:30 pm COMPUTER SCIENCE
Molson Centre Tuesday, June 12, at 7 p.m.
Honorand: The Honourable Louise Arbour Molson Centre
Honorand: Lionel Hurtubise
JOHN MOLSON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Monday, June 11, at 7 p.m.
Molson Centre
Honorand: Dr. Henry Mintzberg
*Biographies attached Ö/2
Louise Arbour
Born in Montreal, the Honorable Madam Justice Louise Arbour was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada in 1999. She has had a tremendous impact on the laws for human rights and justice both within Canada and on the international stage. She has served as chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunals in the Hague, and was appointed by the Security Council of the United Nations in 1996 to oversee the investigation of war crimes in the former Yugoslavia and genocide in Rwanda. In 1995, she headed a federal inquiry into alleged human rights abuses of prisoners at the Kingston Prison for Women.
Geoffrey Ballard
A native of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Dr. Geoffrey Ballard is a scientist who has spent close to 30 years working on alternative energy sources and technologies. In 1979, he founded Ballard Power Systems, now a world leader in the development of affordable, zero-emission fuel cell systems for power plants, portable electrical generators, marine engines, and buses. His innovations in fuel cell technology have helped steer the auto industry, currently the world's single biggest polluter, on a course towards manufacturing environmentally clean vehicles.
Lionel P. Hurtubise
A Montrealer who attended Loyola College, Lionel Hurtubise is chairman and former CEO of Ericsson Canada Inc. He began his career with the Canadian Marconi Company in 1953 and was instrumental in the development of major manufacturers of telecommunications equipment, quickly becoming a leading innovator in the information technology and wireless industries. He has also been key to building strategic relationships between Canadian universities and the telecommunications industry. He is past chairman of the Computer Research Institute of Montreal (CRIM), the Canadian Network for the Advancement of Research, Industry and Education (CANARIE) and SociÈtÈ Innovatech Grand Montrèal. He chairs the Quebec chapter of the Canadian Advanced Technology Association (CATA).
Henry Mintzberg
Dr. Henry Mintzberg is known for his pioneering work in the field of strategic management in organizations. Born in Montreal, he earned his BA from Sir George Williams University in 1962, BEng from McGill University, and his Master's and PhD degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Mintzberg is a distinguished contemporary management author and has been a professor in the Management Faculty at McGill since 1968. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada and the Order of Quèbec.
Robert Savoie
Born in Montreal, baritone Robert Savoie has appeared around the world in 92 roles over the course of his 31-year career. After retiring from the stage in 1981, he co-founded l'OpÈra de Montrèal and l'Orchestre MÈtropolitain. He was Artistic Director at the City of Lachine for 20 years, where he coordinated numerous concert series and a yearly summer musical festival.
Shirley Thomson
Dr. Shirley Thomson is the director of the Canada Council for the Arts, and the former director of the National Gallery of Canada and the McCord Museum. Her work has helped advance knowledge and understanding of people and their cultures, and of the vital role of the arts within Canadian culture. Early in her career she was Secretary-General of the Canadian Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and director of the UNESCO pavilion at Expo 67 in Montreal. Dr. Thomson was named Chevalier des arts et des lettres by the Government of France in 1990, and an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1994.
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