A total of 557 graduates from Canada and 23 other countries received degrees, certificates and diplomas at Royal Roads University’s spring 2023 convocation on Friday, including two who were bestowed with honorary doctor of laws degrees.
Jody Thomas became national security and intelligence advisor to the prime minister in 2022, and Indigenous artist Carey Newman, whose traditional name is Hayalthkin’geme, created the Witness Blanket, a large-scale work of art that contained items reclaimed from residential schools.
Thomas previously served as deputy minister of the Department of National Defence, commissioner for the Canadian Coast Guard and COO for Passport Canada.
During her career in the public service, which began in 1988, Thomas has been at the centre of some of Canada’s most important domestic and international decisions, the university said, including Canada’s security response to the war in Ukraine and the Canadian Armed Forces response to requests for assistance during the pandemic and natural disasters.
“Her colleagues say that her attention to the well-being of those around her shows through whatever she does. She leads with strength, compassion and conviction and is working to create positive change and redefine a culture,” said Royal Roads Chancellor Nelson Chan.
Newman, a multidisciplinary artist who shares stewardship of The Witness Blanket with the Canadian Museum of Human Rights, is also a public speaker, filmmaker, scholar and master carver.
“Carey Newman leads collaborative projects and approaches his work and working relationships with integrity and gentleness. He is a wonderful example of Royal Roads’ values of courage, creativity and caring, and we are so fortunate to be able to display some of his work here on campus,” said Philip Steenkamp, president and vice-chancellor.
“While we have much to be concerned about in terms of the great challenges we’re facing in the world today, it gives me such hope to look out on a room full of people who are now better equipped to step into that world, and I can’t wait to see what they do next.”
Indigenous graduates gathered a day before the convocation to celebrate their achievements in a private ceremony with family, friends, elders and old ones.
For more information, go to royalroads.ca
