Our Chancellor His Highness the Aga Khan has received honorary doctor of laws degrees from three universities – University of Calgary, University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University – at special ceremonies.
The first degree of Honorary Doctor of Laws, which is bestowed upon individuals whose notable achievements and community service merit recognition, was conferred by UCalgary Chancellor Deborah Yedlin.
In presenting the citation for the degree, UCalgary president and vice-chancellor Dr Elizabeth Cannon highlighted the work undertaken by the Aga Khan Development Network, founded by His Highness the Aga Khan, which includes the Aga Khan University and the University of Central Asia. “Those organizations are both foundational nuclei for health, education, development, protection of the environment, and cultural and economic revitalization,” said Dr Cannon.
Dr Cannon’s remarks emphasised how the University of Calgary has benefited from His Highness’ visionary efforts, through partnerships with the faculties of graduate studies, nursing, arts, and the Werklund School of Education as well as through historical relationships and research partnerships in Calgary and at Aga Khan University campuses in Pakistan, Kenya and Uganda.
The other two Honorary Doctorate of Laws degrees were awarded by the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University in a joint conferral ceremony—a first for both the universities.
The degrees were awarded in recognition of the Chancellor’s lifelong service to humanity, and the intersections of his work at UBC and SFU.
SFU’s Centre for Comparative Muslim Studies and AKU’s Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations have been working together to establish Expressions of Diversity, an internationally renowned summer school on Muslim diversity that provided participants with a critical-historical understanding of Muslims within larger and more diverse frameworks.
