Two distinguished alumni to receive honorary degrees

Jennifer Stoddart, former Privacy Commissioner of Canada, and Timothy Brodhead, whose work in the non-profit sector has had a profound impact in Canada and overseas, will receive honorary degrees at the University’s fall convocation ceremonies.

Stoddart and Brodhead, both of whom earned Bachelor’s degrees at McGill, will share the stage with graduating students on Tuesday, Nov. 10^th, at Place des Arts. The ceremonies will be livecast on the McGill website.

Jennifer Anne Stoddart

Doctor of Laws, honoris causa

Jennifer Stoddart’s career in public service is testament to her dedication and commitment to human rights. After earning a Bachelor in Civil Law degree from McGill, she became director and then vice-president, from 1987 to 2000, at the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse du Québec. During that time, together with three others, she co-authored L’histoire des femmes au Québec depuis quatre siècles, a seminal book that has become a reference for women’s studies in Canada.

In 1996, she was appointed president of l’Association canadienne-française pour l'avancement des sciences. In 2000, she became president of the Commission d’accès à l’information du Québec, where she promoted greater transparency for information held by the government.

In 2003, she was appointed Privacy Commissioner of Canada. During her term, she worked to ensure compliance with Canada’s privacy laws in an age where personal information is in constant global transit. In 2011 Jennifer Stoddart was recognized by the Quebec Bar with the Mérite Christine-Tourigny Award of Merit and she was named Avocat Émérite.

Timothy Richard Brodhead, O.C

Doctor of Laws, honoris causa

Timothy Brodhead enjoyed a celebrated 25-year career in the field of international development as a volunteer in Africa with CUSO (Canadian University Service Overseas) and then as founding director of several non-governmental organizations. This work culminated with his appointment as Executive Director of the Canadian Council for International Co-operation, a national organization representing over 120 non-profit Canadian international development agencies.

In 1995, he was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, a family foundation based in Montreal whose mission is to create a more resilient society by enhancing inclusion, sustainability and social innovation.

He is co-author of a book entitled Bridges of Hope? : Canadian Voluntary Agencies and the Third World, which analyzes the contributions of Canadian non-governmental actors to global development. Appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada, Timothy Brodhead is recognized as a man of integrity, vision and creativity whose life mission is to strive for social justice.