Loyalist College will hold its 2009 Convocation ceremonies on Thursday, June 11 and Friday, June 12. The College is pleased to announce three distinguished guest speakers for the ceremonies: Judith Maxwell, Senior Fellow and the Founding President of Canadian Policy Research Networks; Brian Askett, founder and owner of Askett Consulting Services; and Wilfrid J. Wilkinson, retired chartered accountant, founding partner of Wilkinson and Company, and Past President of Rotary International.
On Thursday, June 11, the 10:00 a.m. ceremony will honour graduates in the Schools of Health Sciences and Human Studies. The guest speaker will be Judith Maxwell, who is known for her extensive experience as a participant in both public and private sector think tanks. She has established a national reputation as a leading thinker on Canada’s social and economic policy choices and was also one of the pioneers in deliberative dialogues that give unaffiliated citizens a voice in public policy discussion. Mrs. Maxwell is a member of the Order of Canada and a member of the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of Ottawa. She served as the Chair of the Economic Council of Canada from 1985 to 1992 and worked as a consultant as Director of Policy Studies at the C.D. Howe Institute.
On Thursday afternoon at 2:30 p.m., graduating students in the Schools of Biosciences, Business and Management Studies and the Centre for Justice Studies will hear an address by Brian Askett, four-time recipient of the Treasury Board Merit Award, the highest award presented by the federal government to public service employees. Mr. Askett graduated from Loyalist College in 1973 on the Dean’s List with a three-year Business diploma majoring in Accounting. His career has spanned more than 33 years in various departments and functions of the federal government, holding progressively senior operational positions focusing on systems, finance and administration. As Acting Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade he oversaw financial operations of more than $3 Billion annually with over $300 Million in revenues abroad.
The third Convocation ceremony will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 12, recognizing graduating students in the Schools of Media Studies, Architecture and Building Sciences, and Continuing Education and Skills. Wilfrid Wilkinson’s humanitarian efforts have touched both the local community and international concerns. Wilf Wilkinson is a charter member of the Board of Governors of the College. He was appointed in 1968 and chaired the Board in 1974 and 1975. He chaired the Leadership Division in the College’s Foundations for the New Millennium Capital Campaign from 1996-98, and is an Honorary Director of The Loyalist College Foundation. A Rotarian since 1962, he served as President of Rotary International from 2007 until 2008. As a member of the International Polio Committee, Mr. Wilkinson has been dedicated to the global effort to eradicate polio. He has also been a Health, Hunger and Humanity program volunteer to India. Mr. Wilkinson has been recognized for his humanitarian service by the Knights of Columbus, the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada, and in 2001 was honoured by Pope John Paul II with the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal. In 2007, the Governor General of Canada appointed him as a Member of the Order of Canada, Canada’s highest civilian honour. He is also the recipient of many Rotary honours, including the Citation for Meritorious Service, The International Service Award for a Polio-Free World, the Distinguished Service Award and Service Above Self Award.
Media Contact: Marilyn Warren, Communications, Loyalist College (613) 969-1913, ext. 2332; e-mail: mwarren@loyalistc.on.ca