McGill introduces new Chancellor and bestows Eleanor Wachtel and Richard W. Pound with highest honours
On tap at Fall Convocation: ceremony to install new Chancellor H. Arnold Steinberg; Honorary degrees for Canadian writer/broadcaster and former McGill Chancellor
McGill University will recognize two remarkable Canadians by according them honorary degrees at Fall Convocation. The recipients are Eleanor Wachtel, one of Canada's top writers and broadcasters, and Richard W. Pound, former McGill Chancellor. Chancellor Arnold Steinberg will be installed as the new Chancellor. The trio will share the stage with 800 graduating students during Convocation ceremonies on Friday, November 27, in Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at Place des Arts in Montreal.
Chancellor H. Arnold Steinberg, CM
Installation ceremony: Friday November 27 at 10:00 a.m.
Eleanor Wachtel , CM
Doctor of Letters, honoris causa
Friday, November 27, 10:00 a.m.
A McGill graduate with an Honours BA in English literature, Eleanor Wachtel is a well known figure in the Canadian arts. A long time host of CBC Radio's Writers & Company, Wachtel also hosted The Arts Tonight, for the better part of a decade. As a contributor for "Wachtel on the Arts" for the CBC series Ideas, Wachtel examines the world of film, opera, the visual arts, theatre, dance and architecture.
Throughout her illustrious career, Wachtel has interviewed many notable guests including John Updike, Desmond Tutu, Oliver Sacks, Jane Goodall Harold Bloom and Margaret Atwood. Among her awards, Wachtel's Writers & Company won the CBC Award for Programming Excellence in 1995 and 2003, and was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 2004 for her outstanding contribution to arts journalism.
Richard W. Pound, OC, OQ, QC
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Friday, November 27, 3:00 p.m.
Chancellor Emeritus Richard Pound has presided over McGill Convocation ceremonies for a decade, conferring degrees on thousands of McGill graduates. Internationally known for his work in promoting the Olympic movement as an International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board member and Vice-President, Pound was instrumental in restoring the fiscal health of the Olympic Games. He helmed the investigation into the scandal surrounding the Salt Lake City Olympics bid, which resulted in new ethical guidelines for interactions between IOC members and bidding cities. In 1999, Pound became Founding Chair of the World Anti-Doping Agency; his new mandate was tackling drug use among the world's top athletes.
Pound has nurtured a distinguished career as a tax attorney in Montreal and has an exceptional record of service to his alma mater. A graduate of McGill in both Management (1962) and Law (1967), as a student, he broke sports records in swimming and earned academic honours in all of his programs.
Some of his volunteer accolades include service on McGill's Board of Governors, including five years as its Chair; President of the McGill Alumni Association; Chairman of the McGill Fund Council; Trustee of the Martlet Foundation; and University Chancellor. Some of his awards include the McGill Alumni Association's Award of Merit, the Distinguished Friend of Education award from the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education and the Ernest T. Stewart Award for Alumni Volunteer Involvement from the U.S.-based Council for Advancement and Support of Education. He also holds eight honorary degrees, is an Officer of both the Order of Canada and l'Ordre national du Québec.
