�鶹��ý

The last papers have been turned in, and the final tests have been taken. All that’s left now for Queen’s students who have just finished their program is one thing: to cross the convocation stage and officially receive their degrees. This spring, approximately 5,500 graduates from all seven faculties will be taking part in convocation, with ceremonies being held May 22-23 at Grant Hall and June 24-27 at the Slush Puppie Place in downtown Kingston.

“Queen’s newest graduates are about to go out into the world and make contributions across Canada and around the globe,” says Principal Patrick Deane. “But before they start charting their own paths, we will come together as a community for convocation to celebrate the immense effort they’ve put into earning their degrees. Our honorary degree recipients will also be there to offer their wisdom.”

This spring’s five honorary degree recipients are being recognized for their work in a range of fields, including engineering, economics, and the arts. They have been chosen by the Queen’s community for their outstanding achievements as well as their contributions to local, national, and global communities.

This year’s honorary degree recipients are:

Marie Henein – May 23, 10 a.m.

Marie Henein is widely recognized as one of the most prominent litigators in Canada, with extensive experience as lead counsel on high-profile criminal, civil, and regulatory cases. In addition to her broad criminal law practice, her experience includes acting as lead counsel for plaintiffs and defendants in class actions. She has argued at all levels of court, including the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. Henein received her LL.B. in 1989 from Osgoode Hall Law School and her LL.M from Columbia University in 1991. She is the past president of The Advocates’ Society (2010-2011), a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a member of the Supreme Court Advocacy Institute, and one of the founders of the Court of Appeal’s Appellate Duty Counsel Program. Her memoir, Nothing but the Truth, was published in 2021, and she is a senior partner at Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP.

Nancy Olewiler – June 24, 3 p.m.

Nancy Olewiler is a distinguished economist who has made significant contributions to the fields of natural resource and environmental economics. A professor emerita at Simon Fraser University, she was founding director of its School of Public Policy and continued in that role for over 15 years. She was a professor in the Department of Economics at SFU and served as its chair from 1995 to 2000. Prior to moving to SFU in 1990 she was a faculty member in the Department of Economics at Queen’s. With a PhD in economics from the University of British Columbia, Dr. Olewiler has dedicated her career to advancing public policy through extensive research and publications on energy and climate policy, natural capital and ecosystem services, and tax policy.

William Young – June 25, 10 a.m.

Bill Young(Eng’77) graduated from Queen’s with a degree in chemical engineering. In 1979 he was admitted to the MBA program at Harvard University, where he graduated with distinction in 1981. Since then, he has worked in management consultancy and private equity investment for several firms, including Bain & Company, Westbourne Management Group, and Monitor Clipper Partners. Young has served as board chair of a number of Canadian public companies: Magna International (2012-2022), AtkinsRealis (formerly SNC Lavalin) (2020-present) and Intact Financial (2022-present). In addition, he chaired the �鶹��ý Board of Trustees (2006-2012) and chaired the board of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (2019-2024).

Veena Rawat – June 25, 3 p.m.

Veena Rawat(PhD’73) has had many pathbreaking "firsts" in her career, starting in 1973, when she became the first woman to earn a PhD in electrical engineering from Queen’s. Currently she is president and CEO of Expert Strategies International, a U.S.-based consulting firm specializing in telecommunication policies and regulations. Before taking on this role, she held a variety of positions in the telecommunications field with the Government of Canada, Communications Research Centre, and BlackBerry. In 2014 Dr. Rawat was appointed Officer of the Order of Canada for her “contributions to telecommunications engineering and for leadership in establishing the global regulatory framework for radio spectrum management.”

Cheryl L’Hirondelle – June 26, 10 a.m.

Cheryl L’Hirondelle is a mixed-blood, multi- and interdisciplinary artist, singer/songwriter, and critical thinker. Her creative practice articulates a Cree worldview (nēhiyawin itāpisinowin) and aims to create immersive environments that work toward ‘radical inclusion’ and decolonization. She was part of the historic Minquon Panchayat, a group of Indigenous artists and artists of colour who radically challenged and changed the artist-run centre movement in the early 1990s. Since 2008, she has been co-writing songs with incarcerated women, men, and detained youth in federal prisons, provincial correctional centres, and municipal detention centres. Her work has been acquired for several permanent collections, and she continues to exhibit, present, perform, and lecture nationally and internationally. She received the Governor General’s Visual and Media Art Award in 2021.

Learn more about convocation ceremonies on the Office of the University Registrar website.