TORONTO, ONTARIO – Humber College bestowed honorary degrees upon five remarkable Canadians in recognition of their contributions to the fields of law, journalism, sport, business and education. A common trait among all the recipients, who received their honours during Humber’s Spring Convocation which took place from June 18-21, is their commitment to social and community impact.
“Humber is proud to recognize and honour these exceptional individuals whose accomplishments serve as an inspiration to our graduates,” said Ann Marie Vaughan, president and CEO, Humber. “Their contributions to their communities and Canada at large, as well as their significant impact on equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging, and human rights are helping to build a better world.”
The 2024 Humber Honorary Degree recipients are:
JACQUELINE EDWARDS
Jacqueline Edwards has spent nearly three decades as an employee with the Correctional Service of Canada. Edwards is known within her department for championing change in the areas of equity, inclusion and diversity as well as anti-racism. The 2022 Premier’s Awards nominee in the Community Services category made history as the first female president of the Association of Black Law Enforcers (ABLE) where she works with board members, allies and partners in the community to create a public safety system that reflects the principles of equity and justice for all.
TAREQ HADHAD
Tareq Hadhad is the founder and CEO of Peace by Chocolate. Since arriving in Canada in 2015 as a newcomer from Syria, Hadhad has been the recipient of numerous awards including the EY Entrepreneur of The Year 2021 for the Atlantic Region, RBC’s top Immigrant Award and Entrepreneur of the Year in 2020 and Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal. In 2012, the Hadhad’s home and factory that housed the family’s chocolate-making business were destroyed. Passionate about peace and entrepreneurship, his family relaunched the family business in Canada to recreate the chocolates they once exported across the Middle East. Hadhad and his family have a focus on job creation, utilizing a network of local community members and refugees from across Nova Scotia and Canada to help support the local economy.
DEEPA MATTOO
Deepa Mattoo is an award-winning lawyer and intersectional feminist whose work is rooted in equity and anti-oppressive and anti-racist practice. Mattoo is executive director of the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic and has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada, Parliamentary committees and UN civil society meetings on a wide range of social justice and human rights issues. She’s an adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School and has received multiple awards including the Spirit of Schlifer Award, the Ontario Bar Association Award for Excellence in the Promotion of Women's Equality as well as the Desi Achiever’s Award for her contributions to human rights and access to justice.
DUNCAN MCCUE
Duncan McCue is an award-winning broadcaster, author and professor who spent 25 years with CBC News, which included hosting CBC Radio’s national phone-in program Cross Country Checkup and serving as a correspondent for CBC-TV’s flagship news show, The National. He’s a professor of Indigenous Journalism and (Story)telling at Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communication and has trained journalists worldwide on how to build respectful relationships with Indigenous communities. McCue is Anishinaabe, a member of the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation in southern Ontario.
KAETLYN OSMOND
Kaetlyn Osmond is a gold-medal winning Canadian figure skater whose career spanned more than two decades. The Newfoundland and Labrador native has three Olympic medals and two World Championship medals, including gold in 2018 at both the Olympic Games in PyeongChang, Korea, and the World Championships in Milan, Italy. In 2019, she was inducted into the Edmonton Sports Hall of Fame and named a recipient of the Order of Newfoundland. Since retiring, she has transitioned into sports broadcasting by serving as an analyst for CBC during the Beijing Winter Olympics and working with Skate Canada to livestream their national and international events. Osmond is a full-time student at the University of Alberta pursuing a degree in media studies and creative writing while also coaching students of all ages to achieve their figure skating goals.
Find out more, along with a list of past recipients, by visiting the Convocation webpage.
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About Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning
Innovation. Opportunity. Partnership. Support. At Humber College, we bring it all to more than 86,000 learners, in-person and online. As a global leader in polytechnic education, Humber provides in-depth theoretical learning, hands-on, work-integrated experiences and applied research opportunities to students at three main Toronto locations and beyond. Extensive industry connections, experienced faculty and a comprehensive range of credentials, including honours undergraduate degrees, Ontario graduate certificates, diplomas, apprenticeships, and certificates prepare career-ready global citizens for success in the future world of work. Visit humber.ca.
For more information, please contact:
Sylvie Lendvay
Media Relations Specialist
Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
sylvie.lendvay@humber.ca | 416.729.8940