In recognition of his contributions to Canada and the world, York University awarded JRS an Honorary Doctor of Law Degree. JRS spoke to a full stadium of graduating students from York’s Faculty of Liberal Art & Professional Studies about taking leadership and responsibility for their future:
“You, for better or worse, are graduating into tough times. There’s no point in pretending that isn’t the case. We live in an era of uncertainty where democracy is being threatened, authoritarianism is on the rise, access to education needs to be improved and engaged citizenship is lacking… The citizenry – all of us, through our democracy – we have to do the shaping… It’s going to be hard work … to rebuild the reality of the engaged citizen who believes in the shared public good, and hard work to build new coalitions of engaged citizens.”
You can read JRS’s full convocation address.