Queen’s acknowledged the lifetime achievements of three Canadians at fall convocation.
Between Nov. 13 and 17, the University presented three honourary degrees to individuals coming from diverse backgrounds. This included former Prime Minister Joe Clark, researcher Suzanne Fortier, and author and poet M. NourbeSe Philip.
Prime Minister Joe Clark: An esteemed public servant
Clark, Canada’s youngest prime minister, emphasized the need for students to get involved in global politics. Clark spent over 30 years as a Member of Parliament from Alberta, and seven years serving as Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
“I consider it a great privilege to be at the heart of vital, active, Canadian conversations about how we might live together more effectively for people,” Clark said in an interview with The Journal.
Students offer a fresh and valuable perspective on the future, Clark explained. He encouraged students to get involved and expand their horizons.
“You don’t want to simply dig deeper into the interests which you’ve already have, you want to expand them,” Clark said. “It’s never been more important because the status quo isn’t working, it’s stagnant. We need younger minds to become engaged.”
NourbSe Philip: A multitalented author
NourbSe Philip built a career as a lawyer in Toronto before she began publishing articles, essays, poetry, and books. Her work confronts issues of race, place, gender, colonialization, and language. A mentor, she’s taught at the University of Toronto and currently serves as a writer-in-residence at McMaster University and Toronto Women’s Bookstore.
Philip’s work has garnered international awards. Her book Harriet’s Daughter explores how a young Black teenager takes control of her life, and the book is now included in the Ontario high-school curricula. Her work has been translated into numerous languages for readers worldwide.
Suzanne Fortier: A reputed academic
Suzanne Fortier, a crystallographer and former Vice-Chancellor of McGill University, has authored over 80 scientific publications in natural sciences. She served as the President of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) from 2006 to 2013.
Fortier’s research focused on the intersection between artificial intelligence and mathematical techniques to understand structures of proteins. She’s considered a leading researcher in the field of crystallography, a scientific field analyzing crystal structures to assess the natural world.
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