Former UBC President Stephen Toope will receive an honorary degree from UBC during the Spring Congregation ceremonies in late May.
Toope served as president of UBC from 2008 to 2014, having stepped down in order to pursue careers related to international law and international relations. He now works as the director of the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs.
This announcement comes as a part of UBC’s annual honorary degree program, which recognizes the achievements of individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the growth and well-being of local, national or international society.
Toope’s honorary degree comes less than a year after he resigned from his role as the president of UBC. Since UBC does not normally give honorary degrees to current faculty members, his resignation has made him considerably more eligible for the award.
Toope attended Harvard University for his bachelors degree in English Literature and European History. He later received a law degree from McGill University before eventually earning his Ph.D from Cambridge University.
After graduation, Toope has worked with various organizations focused on philanthropy and international development such as the Trudeau Foundation, the United Nations, the Canadian Human Rights Foundation and the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. He was also the youngest person to serve as the Dean of Law at McGill University from 1994 to 1999.
Through an honorary degree, UBC will now be able to aptly recognize Toope’s accomplishments and contributions.
The Spring Congregation ceremonies take place from May 20-22 and May 25-27. Other honorary degree recipients include pioneer woman lawyer Constance Isherwood, award-winning screenwriter Hart Hanson, art dealer Uno Langmann and Vancouver Folk Music Festival co-founder Gary Cristall.
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