ºÚÁÏÍø

Together, over the past two years, we have collectively responded to diverse challenges and adapted the way we do most things. We’ve also patiently waited to gradually return to campus so that we can safely celebrate our students’ achievements and milestones at events such as Convocation.

The university is excited to announce that Convocation 2022 will take place in person (subject to public-health conditions) from Wednesday, June 8 to Friday, June 10, and that we’ve decided to move from the traditional venue and host this year’s ceremonies at our north Oshawa campus location, outdoors on Polonsky Commons.

Our smaller, faculty-specific ceremonies will provide our graduates with the opportunity to cross the stage and receive their degree in the presence of classmates, professors and staff in addition to family and friends. Details around masking at Convocation will align with our campus policy. We are looking forward to our community coming together to support this milestone event for our graduates outdoors, and we encourage you to sign up for one of the numerous volunteer positions to be filled over the three days. Please visit ontariotechu.ca/convocation for the full ceremony schedule and further details.

Also at Convocation, we will confer honorary doctorate degrees to recognize outstanding individuals who inspire others and embody the university’s vision and mission. Recipients will have made an outstanding intellectual and/or scholarly contribution in their chosen field of academic eminence, or provided outstanding service and/or contributions to greater society through non-academic achievements and/or public service.

This year the university will proudly present honorary degrees to the following individuals:

Mr. Jeffrey Boyce and Mrs. Julia Boyce, Evsam Holdings Ltd., for their strong commitment to volunteerism and philanthropic contributions to the communities of Durham Region, for their championing of education, of young women pursuing education and young women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), and for their steadfast ambassadorship of ºÚÁÏÍø.

Dr. Naheed Dosani, Palliative Care Physician and ºÚÁÏÍø class of 2008 alum, for his relentless advocacy for health and human rights, his trailblazing achievements in delivering community-based hospice palliative care to society’s most vulnerable individuals regardless of their housing status or factors such as poverty, mental health or substance addiction and his ongoing commitment to humanitarian efforts.

Mr. Christian Lassonde, Founder and Managing Partner, Impression Ventures and Director, Lassonde Family Foundation, for his outstanding work as a business leader and entrepreneur, his dedication as a mentor for the next generation of professionals, and his commitment and support to education and health care through philanthropy and volunteer activities. 

Ms. Rania Llewellyn, President and Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors of the Laurentian Bank of Canada, for her significant business successes, her leadership in driving growth and change, and for promoting diversity in the workplace, and her continuing commitment to supporting new Canadian immigrants.

Mr. John Tavares*, Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, for his outstanding work as a Canadian athlete, his dedication as a role model to aspiring young athletes, and for inspiring the next generation to build a better world for themselves and their generation.

*To be conferred in Fall 2022.

Ms. Phyllis Webstad, Founder and Executive Director of Orange Shirt Society and Author of Phyllis’s Orange Shirt, for her profound storytelling and raising awareness about the residential school system, her advocacy for Indigenous Peoples, and her commitment to providing Indigenous Peoples with a platform to having their voices heard. 

We’re looking forward to safely celebrating the success of our 2022 graduates and recognizing the achievements of our honorary doctorate recipients.