The Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, is the university’s highest honour awarded to people of merit who reflect Royal Roads University's vision and values, and have achieved a significant record of success and community service.
Fall 2024 Honorary Doctor of Laws recipients
Suzanne Simard
Dr. Suzanne Simard is a professor of Forest Ecology at the University of British Columbia and the leader of The Mother Tree Project, which researches forest renewal practices that protect biodiversity against climate change. Dr. Simard’s work has been published widely, with over 170 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals. Her latest book, Finding the Mother Tree, brings us into the intimate world of trees, exploring the ways in which trees learn and adapt their behaviors, remember the past, demonstrate agency over the future, and cooperate with a sophistication typically ascribed to humans. Read more.
Anthony von Mandl
Dr. Anthony von Mandl is a humble and successful entrepreneur who leads with innovative spirit and strong values. As founder and CEO of the Mark Anthony Group, his optimistic and sustainable approach to work and life make him a unique success. von Mandl served as the catalyst for sustainable, organic winemaking, agriculture, tourism, and economic development in the Okanagan. Read more.
Selection criteria
- Nominees should be of exceptional merit who have made substantial contributions to society, nationally and/or internationally, including:
- visionary leaders and exemplary public figures
- leading academics in all disciplines and interdisciplinary areas
- community builders and philanthropists
- public intellectuals and opinion makers
- Nominees’ achievements should celebrate the university values (caring, creative and courageous) and serve as an inspiration and role model to our students, graduates and our community.
- Individuals nominated should reflect the diversity of society, including women, Indigenous people, racialized group members and visible minorities, people with disabilities, people who identify as LGBTQ2S+ and others.
Eligibility
- Active members of faculty and staff at Royal Roads are not eligible for honorary degrees. Retired members may be nominated if they are no longer active.
- Normally, an active politician should not be nominated for an honorary degree.
- Current members of the Board of Governors or their family members are not eligible.
- Only in exceptional circumstances will a degree be awarded in absentia.
- Posthumous honorary degrees will not be awarded.
- People who have already received honorary degrees from other institutions will be considered.
Nominations
Nominations may be put forward by present and past members of the Royal Roads University community, such as staff, students, faculty, associate faculty, Board of Governors and alumni.
The Board of Governors considers candidates with achievements in a broad range of categories:
- business
- public service
- the professions
- leisure and the arts
- the sciences
- voluntary service in the community
- service to the university of long-standing or exceptional merit
The nomination deadlines are:
- December 1
- May 1
To submit a nomination, fill out the Honorary Degree nomination form and follow the submission instructions.
Nominators must keep the nomination confidential, including with the potential nominee, members of the Royal Roads community and the public. Once approved by the Board of Governors, nominations will be held active for a period of three years. Successful candidates will be informed in writing by the President of the decision to schedule the award, and nominators will only receive an update on the status of their nomination at this stage. A candidate may be re-nominated or resubmitted for approval.
Award ceremony
Convocation ceremonies take place in June and November.
Normally, only one honorary degree is awarded at each convocation. Potentially, one may be awarded at each of the morning and afternoon ceremonies. Honorary degrees will be conferred at every convocation, but not necessarily every ceremony.
Past recipients
Recent recipients have included:
- Scholar, social justice advocate and author Dr. Andrea Davis (2023)
- Indigenous artist, master carver, filmmaker, author and public speaker Hayalthkin’geme Carey Newman (2023)
- Former National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada Jody Thomas (2023)
- Cowichan Elder, cultural bridge-builder and truth speaker THE-LA-ME-YÉ Shirley Alphonse (2022)
- Indigenous water activist Autumn Peltier (2022)
- Activist, environmentalist, and children's singer Raffi Cavoukian (2022)
Read profiles of past recipients.
Contact
To submit a nomination or to ask questions, contact the secretary to the Board of Governors.
The Board secretary will communicate with the nominators. Staff will undertake due diligence by thoroughly screening nominations.
While not every nominee will be awarded an honorary degree, all submitted applications will also be considered for other RRU awards.
All of the above details on this site are outlined in RRU's Honorary Degrees Policy.