Gwynne Dyer to speak at Laurier Brantford
Gwynne Dyer, renowned journalist, broadcaster and commentator will speak at Laurier Brantford on Thursday, Oct 13. The lecture, entitled “A New Middle East” will take place in RCW 002 at 7:30pm.
Dyer will address the Middle Eastern political situation, analyzing whether its ramifications will have an impact on liberty, poverty and the rise of Islamist movements.
This lecture marks the final portion of Laurier Brantford’s “Lives of Leadership and Purpose” speaker series, a part of the centennial celebrations. Previous speakers include undercover journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, author, Debi Goodwin and nurse and homelessness advocate, Cathy Crowe. The speaker series was established as a way to educate faculty and students on human rights and social justice while encouraging lives of civic engagement.
Dyer’s lecture, co-sponsored by the Dean of the Brantford Campus and the Human Rights & Human Diversity program will be a convicting end to the speaker series.
Centennial statue to be unveiled
A statue of a young Sir Wilfrid Laurier will be unveiled on Waterloo campus on Tuesday, Oct 18 as part of the university’s centennial celebrations.
The bronze statue, situated in the Fred Nichols Campus Centre Quad was one of five proposals submitted by three artists. Marlene Hilton Moore crafted the chosen rendition of the university’s namesake. The statue was created in the image of a youthful Laurier with bright future ahead of him.
The bronze and granite addition to the Waterloo campus was funded in part by the Laurier Alumni Association and external donations, totalling $30,000.
All are welcome at the unveiling ceremony to be held at 1:15pm in the quad amphitheatre. Formal remarks will be made by Laurier President and Vice-Chancellor Max Blouw, Vice-President: Development & Alumni Relations Rob Donelson and Hilton Moore.
Former boxer to receive honourary Laurier degree
Lennox Lewis, former heavyweight boxing champion, will receive an honourary doctor of laws degree at Laurier’s fall convocation on Oct 28, 2011.
The heavyweight Olympic gold medallist has been previously honoured by the Order of Canada and the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. Lewis retired in 2004 and now raises money through the Lennox Lewis Foundation for disadvantaged children in Canada, The United States, The United Kingdom and Jamaica. Lewis is known for his advocacy surrounding issues of domestic violence.
New chancellor named for Laurier
Convocation will also host a ceremonial handing-over-of robes from John Pollock, outgoing Chancellor to incoming Michael Lee-Chin. Lee-Chin, a Jamaican-Canadian is frequently featured in Forbes Magazine’s list of billionaires, largely due to his role as chairman with Portland Holdings, Inc.
Portland owns the National Commerce Bank of Jamaica, and under Lee-Chin’s stewarship, it has grown to become the largest bank in the nation. The bank is also a seminal example of leadership in corporate citizenship, providing financial support to over 60,000 students since 2003.
Lee-Chin has won the Order of Jamaica, as well as the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Youth Business Foundation.
