Convocation 2001 Honorary Degree Recipients

Kenneth Ozman Kenneth Ozmon

Kenneth Ozmon’s accomplishments during his 22 years as president of St. Mary’s University are remarkable. In the course of Dr. Ozmon’s presidency, enrolment quadrupled. The highly respected scholar and university administrator encouraged the development of the Executive MBA and English as a Second Language programmes, degrees in Environmental Science and Criminology, and a Ph.D. in Management. Furthermore, the University established extension centres in downtown Halifax and numerous diploma and certificate programmes.

In addition, Dr. Ozmon worked with a team to create a national model in providing access to the University and its services for students with disabilities. As well, Saint Mary’s has partnered with the West African government of Gambia to educate students in that country since 1996. In 1999, 65 Gambian students graduated with Saint Mary’s degrees.

Active in many associations and councils, Dr. Ozmon was one of the founding board members of the Greater Halifax Partnership and served as chair of the Nova Scotia Human Rights commission (1990-96). Dr. Ozmon has twice been named one of Atlantic Canada’s Top 50 CEOs (Atlantic Business Magazine, 1999 and 2000) and he was designated President Emeritus of Saint Mary’s University at its Spring 2000 Convocation.

Rex Murphy

A writer, broadcaster and teacher, Rex Murphy’s primary interest is language and English literature. Yet his incredible popularity and authenticity comes from his political analyses and documentaries including the tragedy of disappearing cod, writer Annie Proulx, and the Second World War.

Each Sunday he hosts CBC Radio’s “Cross Country Checkup,” Canada’s only open-line radio program, where he is notorious for his sarcastic intellect and deep insight into national and visceral issues.

In addition, Dr. Murphy frequently commentates on “Definitely Not the Opera,” and has appeared on the most perennial CBC shows: Morningside, Land and Sea, The Journal, Midday and Sunday Report.

Born and raised in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Dr. Murphy attended Oxford University in 1968 after graduating from Memorial University as a Rhodes Scholar. In 1997 he received an honorary doctorate from MUN.

Rita Joe

Rita Joe, the “poet laureate” of the Mi’kmaq, began writing in her thirties to contest the conceptions and explain the actualities of Aboriginal people to her children.

Ms. Joe, of Cape Breton, NS, views herself as a housewife who accepted a challenge to properly explain the history of the Mi’kmaq people. After submitting a manuscript and winning a Writers’ Federation contest in Halifax in 1974, Rita had her first work — suitably titled Poems of Rita Joe — published in 1978. Her titles since (Song of Eskasoni School, Lnu and Indians We’re Called, Kelusultiek (We Speak), Autobiography (Song of Rita Joe), Mi’kmaq Anthology, and We Are the Dreamers) have earned her acclaim across Canada while providing honest and positive definitions of Aboriginal people.

In 1990, Ms. Joe received the Order of Canada. She possesses a Doctor of Laws from Dalhousie University (1993), a Doctorate of Letters from the University College of Cape Breton (1997), and a Doctor of Humane Letters from University of Mount Saint Vincent (1998). The National Aboriginal Achievement Awards recognised her in 1997 in the Arts and Culture category.

Ms. Joe has been the subject of television and radio documentaries, and she is a frequent contributor to many of Nova Scotia’s Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal newspapers.