Earlier this month, Laurentian University awarded its first honorary degrees since 2020.
The recipients were Supreme Court Justice Michelle O’Bonsawin, geoscientist and mining executive Catharine Farrow and educator and Alzheimer’s advocate Daniel Andreae.
“We awarded three honorary doctorates to very deserving people who are all really pleased to have that relationship now with Laurentian University, and of course, more to come,” said Laurentian president Lynn Wells, speaking at the June 18 meeting of LU’s senate.
“This came together very quickly, I would say within two weeks of the ceremony, so we were delighted to get three honorary degree recipients.”
While Wells said LU is happy to “get back into the business of awarding honorary degrees,” she said it has come to her attention that the university doesn’t actually have a process to revoke them.
“That's maybe not a very positive thing to talk about, but I've been involved in occasions in previous institutions when it suddenly becomes necessary to consider that,” Wells said.
“So I've asked the university secretary and the secretary of senate to start looking at a procedure that we would bring forward. You don't you don't want to try to build that on the fly when something difficult happens. So that will be coming forward.”
McGill, Carleton and Regina universities revoked honorary degrees awarded to Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond in 2023 after her academic credentials and claims about being a Treaty Indian were the subject of questions.
A Google search shows that several Ontario post-secondary institutions have policies to revoke honorary degrees.
That includes Sudbury’s Cambrian College. The college’s honorary degree policy actually only came into effect April 15, according to the college’s website.
“The board of governors may rescind an honorary degree should it become known that the recipient (past or present) has engaged in behaviour which conflicts with the college’s values,” the policy states.
“Evidence of such behaviour may include: The person has been convicted of a criminal offence which has not been pardoned; Engagement in conduct that constitutes a significant departure from generally recognized standards of public behaviour; The person has been the subject of an official sanction, such as a fine or a reprimand, or disqualification by an adjudicating body, professional association, or other organization having relevance to the college’s values.”
Heidi Ulrichsen is Sudbury.com’s assistant editor. She also covers education and the arts scene.
