Toronto, Ontario – June 16, 2010 – Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning will recognize seven individuals with honorary degrees at this year’s spring convocation ceremonies.
“Humber is proud to recognize these outstanding citizens for their significant contributions to their communities and to the college,” says John Davies, Humber president. “We hope that the successes of our honorary degree recipients will inspire our graduates as they begin their careers.”
More than 8,000 students from across seven of Humber's Academic Schools will graduate this spring. Convocation ceremonies will be held at Humber’s North Campus. This year’s honorary degree recipients include:
James Chiu, president, Mandarin Restaurant Franchise Group
(School of Hospitality, Recreation & Tourism; Tuesday, June 22, 10 a.m.)
Under Mr. Chiu’s leadership, Mandarin Restaurants significantly contribute to their communities. Through its Scholarship Fund, Mandarin provides scholarships to high school and postsecondary students who work, or whose parents work, at Mandarin. Additionally, Mandarin funds scholarships for postsecondary students enrolled in hospitality programs at five Ontario universities and colleges. The Mandarin Foundation donates annually to various charitable organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Canadian Cancer Society and the MS Society.
William Stewart, chief, Toronto Fire Services
(School of Social & Community Services; Tuesday, June 22, 3 p.m.)
Chief Stewart is a 38-year fire service veteran with a demonstrated commitment to the highest standards of professional firefighting. He served in the former City of North York Fire Department for 26 years before the amalgamation of the new City of Toronto in January 1998. He has served as an operations fire fighter, captain, administration chief, assistant deputy, deputy chief and the fire chief since May 2003. Chief Stewart has served as a member of the Professional Standards Setting Body of the Ontario Fire College in the review of all firefighter training standards in Ontario. He is currently a member of the board of directors for the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council.
Andrew Bowerbank, president & chief strategy officer, EC3 Initiative
(School of Applied Technology; Wed. June 23, 10 a.m.)
As executive director of the World Green Building Council (2007-09), Mr. Bowerbank worked with international leaders to establish green building networks throughout Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin and South America. Now concerned with low-carbon economic thinking, Mr. Bowerbank works as a member representative for the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), with a specific goal of delivering a framework for major carbon reductions globally. UNEP’s focus on buildings and infrastructure is a key part of a new global climate deal to succeed the Kyoto Protocol.
Diana Swain, host, CBC News, Toronto
(School of Media Studies & Information Technology; Wednesday, June 23, 3 p.m.)
Diana Swain is one of Canada’s most recognized and accomplished television journalists. Since 2004 she has been the senior anchor and senior journalist for CBC Television’s flagship local news show CBC News. She also has a number of regular assignments with CBC TV, including reporting for the National and replacing anchor Peter Mansbridge during his absences. Ms. Swain is a member of the CBC News Election team and has also worked with CBC Sports. In 2000, Ms. Swain made Canadian history by becoming the first -- and to date, only -- woman to win the Gemini award for Best News Anchor. She won the award a second time in 2009.
Patricia Lovett-Reid, senior vice president, TD Waterhouse Canada Inc & host, MoneyTalk, Business News Network
(The Business School; Thursday, June 24, 10 a.m.)
Patricia Lovett-Reid, senior vice-president of TD Waterhouse Canada Inc., is one of Canada’s leading and most respected authorities on personal finance. Ms. Lovett-Reid holds the designation of Certified Financial Planner and is a regular commentator for Business News Network, CTV, CP24 and the National on CBC Television. She is the host of MoneyTalk, a national prime-time television program on personal finance airing every Monday at 8 p.m. (ET) on Business News Network. As well, she offers daily market commentaries on AM 740.
Jeanne Beker, host, Fashion Television
(The Business School; Thursday, June 24, 3 p.m.)
Jeanne Beker is one of the most iconic and influential women in the fashion industry, both in Canada and internationally. As a television host and producer, Ms. Beker travels to the fashion capitals of the world, covering the latest runway trends and interviewing countless models and designers. Today, Ms. Beker is host and segment producer of both FT and FashionTelevisionChannel, which remains Canada’s only 24-hour digital channel dedicated to fashion, beauty and design.
Mary Gordon, founder and president, Roots of Empathy
(School of Health Sciences: Friday, June 25, 3 p.m.)
Mary Gordon is recognized internationally as a social entrepreneur, award-winning educator, best-selling author, child advocate and parenting expert, who has created evidence-based programs informed by the power of empathy. Ms Gordon is the founder of Canada’s first and largest school-based Parenting and Family Literacy Centres, which she initiated in 1981. These Centres have been a model for positive school engagement of vulnerable families internationally and have informed public policy in Canada.
About Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning
Established in 1967, Humber is one of Canada’s leading postsecondary institutions. Committed to student success through excellence in teaching and learning, Humber serves more than 22,000 full-time students and 55,000 continuing education registrants. With an internationally recognized reputation for quality learning, Humber offers a wide-range of career-focused opportunities for students to personalize their educational path. Our 150 full-time programs include four-year bachelor’s degrees, two and three-year diplomas, one and two-year certificates, and apprenticeship training. As a founding member of Polytechnics Canada, Humber offers students the opportunity to participate in applied research projects that find solutions for issues confronting small and medium-sized enterprises. Humber is one of 12 Vanguard Learning Colleges as identified by the League for Innovation, and the League’s only Canadian board member. Humber finished first in its class in the highly regarded Community College Survey of Student Engagement in 2009 in each of four categories, including Active and Collaborative Learning, Student Effort, Academic Challenge and Student-Faculty Interaction. More than 85 per cent of Humber graduates are employed within six months of completing their studies. Visit humber.ca.
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For more information and to arrange interviews, please contact:
Ilena Aldini-Messina/ Andrew Leopold
Humber Marketing & Communications
(o) 416.675.6622 ext. 5479/4296
ilena.aldinimessina@humber.ca / andrew.leopold@humber.ca
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