Trio will receive honorary degrees
Cheryl Perera, Harvey Waubageshig McCue and Dr. Audrey Kobayashi will be honoured during Trent University’s convocation ceremonies in Peterborough and Durham
Three “outstanding Canadians” will receive Trent University’s highest honour during convocation ceremonies in June.
Cheryl Perera, Harvey Waubageshig McCue and Audrey Kobayashi will be presented with honorary degrees for their leadership in international children’s rights, Indigenous education and anti-racism respectively. The degrees will be handed out during convocation ceremonies from June 4 to 11 in Peterborough and on June 14 in Durham.
“Trent University is pleased to bestow honorary degrees upon Dr. Audrey Kobayashi, Harvey Waubageshig McCue, and Cheryl Perera. Their lifelong commitment to social justice, Indigenous education, and children’s issues is very much in keeping with Trent’s commitment to a future shaped by understanding, innovation, and optimism,” said Leo Groarke, president and vice-chancellor of Trent University, in a prepared release.
“Their efforts highlight the possibility of meaningful change and will inspire our graduates, as they strive to make their own momentous mark on the world.”
The following individuals will be presented with an honorary doctor of laws degree at the Peterborough campus:
Audrey Kobayashi — Wednesday, June 5, 2 p.m. ceremony, Peterborough
Kobayashi is a globally recognized scholar of feminist geography, gender studies, and social justice whose work has significantly challenged the way academics think about equity and contributed to national discussions about anti-racism.
As a distinguished professor emerita and fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, she holds the distinction of being the first Canadian woman of colour elected as president of both the Canadian Association of Geographers and American Association of Geographers. Throughout her 40-year career, Kobayashi has served as a Fulbright fellow at the Migration Policy Institute in Washington, held prestigious visiting fellowships worldwide, and received recognition for her outstanding contributions to the National Association of Japanese Canadians.
Harvey Waubageshig McCue C.M. ’66 — Thursday, June 6, 2 p.m. ceremony
Peterborough’s Harvey McCue is a distinguished Trent University alumnus, professor emeriti, and a member of the Order of Canada who is celebrated for his 40-year career as a scholar, administrator, and Indigenous leader.
McCue made history in 1969 by co-founding Trent’s Indigenous studies department — the first of its kind in Canada — and serving as its first director. His diverse roles over the decades include serving as director of education at the James Bay Cree School Board, executive director of the Mi’kmaq Education Authority, and the first Indigenous director general of what is now known as Indigenous Services Canada.
Since 1995, McCue has worked in Ottawa as a highly regarded consultant, making significant contributions to Indigenous education issues.
Cheryl Perera — June 14, 2 p.m. ceremony, Tribute Communities Centre, Oshawa
Cheryl Perera is a renowned international children’s rights activist, celebrated for her groundbreaking advocacy that has protected and empowered more than 100,000 of the world’s most vulnerable children from sexual exploitation.
Notably, her work began at age 16, without funding or resources, during a time when the topic was taboo. Now she is frequently summoned to the United Nations for her expertise as founder and president of OneChild — a trail-blazing organization that empowers children across the world to protect themselves from sexual exploitation.
Appointed to the Order of Ontario in 2018, Perera is a highly soughtafter public speaker who has received more than 30 international and national prizes, including the World of Children Founder’s Award and the Nobel Prize for child advocates.
Her achievements have been recognized by organizations such as UNICEF, World Vision International, and the Child Welfare League of Canada.