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University of King’s College Announces Encaenia 2015 Honorary Degree recipients

University of King’s College Announces Encaenia 2015 Honorary Degree recipients

The University of King’s College will award four honorary doctorates at its spring Encaenia ceremony on 14 May 2015 at the Cathedral Church of All Saints in Halifax. John Bragg, Roselle Green, John Honderich, and Michael MacMillan will each receive their Doctor of Civil Law, honoris causa.

“We honor these individuals for their life-time contribution to media, journalism, communications, education, and the community. Each of them, through their courage, imagination, and leadership, have helped in their own unique ways to build a better Canada and a better world,” said George Cooper, President and Vice-Chancellor.

John L. Bragg is founder and President of Oxford Frozen Foods Ltd., the world’s largest processor of wild blueberries and other frozen vegetables and products, and Bragg Communications/Eastlink, a digital age communications company. He is highly respected as an astute business person active at the forefront of business in Atlantic Canada and beyond.  Among his many directorships, he serves on the boards of TD Bank and Maple Leaf Foods.

Mr. Bragg, a graduate of Mount Allison University, is a strong advocate for higher education in Atlantic Canada, having served as Chancellor of Mount A and as a supporter of many other universities in our region.

Mr. Bragg was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1996 in recognition of his innovative business thinking and his contributions to higher education.

 

Roselle Green graduated from King’s in 1965 with a diploma in journalism. She holds a BA, MA (history) and a diploma in public administration from Dalhousie University.  All of her degrees were earned as a part-time, mature student dedicated to life-long learning. Mrs. Green spent the last 19 years of her 37-year career in public relations as head of her own consultancy. Over the course of her career, she received many distinctions for both her professional work and as a community volunteer.

Mrs. Green was a founding member of Halifax’s Shaar Shalom Congregation.  Through a gift from Mrs. Green, King’s and the Shaar Shalom Synagogue co-present the Dr. Saul Green Memorial Lectures, held at King’s in honour of her late husband. These lectures examine themes pertaining to medicine, Judaism, and humanitarianism

 

John A. Honderich is Chair of the Board of Torstar Corporation, which publishes the Toronto Star, Canada’s most widely circulated newspaper, and three other Ontario city dailies. Torstar also owns 110 community newspapers and seven Metro newspapers across Canada, including the Halifax Metro.

Under Mr. Honderich’s direction, the Toronto Star has brought attention to issues of social justice and has won three Michener Awards for public service journalism. For his service to journalism, he was made a member of the Canadian News Hall of Fame in 2014.

Mr. Honderich has also penned Arctic Imperative, a 1987 book that outlines the dangers threatening Canada’s North.

Mr. Honderich funds the King’s “Bachelor of Journalism International Student Award” for students from developing countries that this year has allowed a student from Ghana to graduate with his bachelor of journalism degree.

For speaking out for those whose voices are often not heard, and for his support of many social causes, including the promotion of literacy, Mr. Honderich was awarded the Order of Canada in 2004.

 

Michael MacMillan co-founded Atlantis Films Limited, a film and television production house that became a broadcaster with the launch of Life Network. Atlantis Films became Alliance Atlantis Communications in 1998 and Mr. MacMillan served as Chairman and CEO until the enterprise was sold in 2007. In 2011, Mr. MacMillan co-founded Blue Ant Media, a Canadian-based media, lifestyle and entertainment company where he serves as CEO.

Mr. MacMillan co-founded Samara Canada in 2009, a charity dedicated to reconnecting citizens to politics. Samara conducts original research and educational programming such as “Democracy Talks” and the “Everyday Political Citizen” projects. With Alison Loat, the co-founder of Samara, Mr. MacMillan co-authored Tragedy in the Commons in 2014, a book that examines what has gone wrong in recent years with our parliamentary democracy.

For his promotion of our cinematic talent and for his commitment to enhancing civic engagement in Canada, Mr. MacMillan was awarded the Order of Canada in 2014.


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