On Nov. 12, Carleton University is pleased to confer honorary degrees on the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the Honourable David C. Onley, and distinguished nuclear chemist Donald Wiles at its annual Fall Convocation. Lieutenant Governor Onley has worked tirelessly for years to improve accessibility for all Ontarians. Dr. Wiles is a longtime Carleton faculty member who has written widely on nuclear fission, corrosion and hot atom chemistry.
“Convocation is a time for celebration on campus, but also reflection,” said President Roseann O’Reilly Runte. “It’s a wonderful chance to learn from great Canadians like Lieutenant Governor Onley and Dr. Wiles, who have made outstanding contributions to their communities in the areas of disability issues and scholarship.”
David Onley will be awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, at the 2 p.m. ceremony “in recognition of outstanding contribution to the advancement of disability issues.” Donald Wiles will be awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, at the 9:30 a.m. ceremony “in recognition of distinguished contribution to scholarship and service to Carleton University.”
In all, 1,179 Carleton students will be receiving their degrees. Alongside their fellow graduates, some outstanding students will be recognized:
Dominique Roy has won the prestigious Governor General’s Medal, as well as a medal for outstanding graduate work at the master’s level. Roy is graduating with a master’s thesis in mathematics. The Governor General’s Medal is awarded annually in the fall to a graduate student and in the spring to two undergraduate students.
Meaghan Amanda Lynn Landry was awarded the President’s Medal for having the highest standing in a general or major degree program of study. She graduates with a BA in criminology and criminal justice, with a concentration in psychology.
Jason Levesque is graduating with an honours BA in psychology, and is being recognized with the Chancellor’s Medal awarded annually in the name of the university chancellor to a graduating undergraduate student of outstanding academic achievement
May Chazan and Stefan Radacina Rusu were awarded the University Medal for Outstanding Graduate Work at the doctoral and master’s levels, respectively.
Media are welcome to attend – the morning ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m. while the afternoon ceremony begins at 2 p.m. at the Fieldhouse. Parking is available in P5 and media are asked to leave their credentials on their dashboards.
Carleton will be live-streaming the event from the university’s website: www.carleton.ca.
Background:
Morning Honorary Degree Recipient:
Donald Wiles, B.Sc., B.Ed., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Carleton Professor Emeritus Donald Wiles has had a long and distinguished career in the field of chemistry, with a specialty in the area of nuclear chemistry.
He began his career at Carleton University in 1959 as an assistant professor and he eventually became chairman of the Chemistry Department, a position he held from 1979 to 1987. Throughout his career, he has been active within the Carleton community and outside of it.
His expertise has been sought by a number of noted organizations, including the National Research Council, the Federal Environmental Assessment Review Panel (Scientific Review Group on High Level Nuclear Waste Disposal), the Council of Canadian University Chemistry Chairmen and the Chemical Institute of Canada.
More than 64 papers have been published under his name, as well as three review articles and one patent (in three countries). His subjects have included nuclear fission, corrosion and hot atom chemistry. He has also produced two books on nuclear chemistry and is currently working on an autobiography. He has compiled a history of Carleton’s Chemistry Department.
His love of travel has taken him around the world. Over the past few years, he has organized the monthly Almonte Lectures and short courses titled Learning in Almonte, a town located outside of Ottawa. He is the president of the Carleton Retirees’ Association.
Afternoon Honorary Degree Recipient:
The Honourable David Onley, O.Ont., B.A.
For years, the Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, has worked tirelessly to improve accessibility for all. Prior to becoming the province’s 28th Lieutenant Governor in 2007, he was a broadcaster with CityTV for 22 years. Mr. Onley was Canada’s first senior newscaster with a visible disability.
Before his appointment as Lieutenant Governor, His Honour was chair of the Government of Ontario’s Accessibility Standards Advisory Council, the SkyDome Accessibility Council and the Air Canada Centre Accessibility Committee. He has assisted the Ontario March of Dimes, Variety Village, the Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons and the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto.
Mr. Onley has been honoured with the King Clancy Award for Disabled Persons, the Courage to Come Back Award and the Positive Impact Award. He has been inducted into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame and the Scarborough Walk of Fame.
His best-selling novel Shuttle was nominated as Book of the Year in 1982 by the Periodical Distributor’s Association and he has contributed to television, radio and publications, often with a focus on science, technology and faith. He co-founded and was president of the Aerospace Heritage Foundation.
For more information:
Caitlin Kealey
Media Relations, Carleton University
613-520-2600, ext. 8718
Caitlin_Kealey@carleton.ca
On-site contact:
Chris Cline
Media Relations
Carleton University
613-520-2600, ext. 1391
613-355-0336
christopher_cline@carleton.ca
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Wednesday, November 9, 2011 in News Releases
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