Jacques Bensimon, who has led the French wing of TVOntario since its inception in 1987, will receive an honorary Doctor of Letters degree in recognition of his cultural leadership as a film maker, producer and scriptwriter. Moroccan-born Bensimon has worked for the United Nations and the National Film Board of Canada, directing dozens of educational and short films for cinema and television. (To name only a few: Le Jour du referendum dans la vie de Richard Rohmer; Les Carnets du Maroc, Rock-a-bye, De Mains et d'espoir.) With Bensimon at the helm, TFO has become a success story not only in Ontario, but abroad, winning numerous prizes including the "Prix du 3 juillet 1608" for its contribution to the affirmation of Francophonie in North America. Bensimon is also an Executive member of L'Association Internationale des Televisions d'Education et de Decouverte (AITED), la Communaute des Televisions Francophones (CTF), in France; le Conseil International des radios-televisions d'expression francaise (CIRTEF) in North America, Africa and Europe; and TV5 Quebec, TV5 USA in Canada.

Rhombus Media (York alumni and founding members of the award-winning Rhombus Media: Niv Fichman, Barbara Willis Sweete, Larry Weinstein, Sheena Macdonald) will receive an honorary Doctor of Letters degree in recognition of their achievements in producing award-winning performing arts entertainment. Since its formation at the York University Film Department in 1979, the group has received six consecutive International Emmy nominations and an Academy Award nomination for Making Overtures. Said to combine the show business verve of America with the artistic refinement of Europe, Rhombus Media has produced and directed more than 50 films, including: Thirty-two short films about Glenn Gould; September Songs: The Music of Kurt Weill; Dido and Aeneas; and Solidarity Song: The Hans Eisler Story. This is the first time York University has conferred an honorary degree on a group.

Chief Florence Adelette Tabobondung, now an Elder of the Union of Ontario Indians and an Order of Canada recipient, will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in recognition of her contribution to improving social and educational conditions on and off reserves during her 27 years as Chief of the Wasauksing First Nation on Parry Island near Parry Sound. Tabobondung oversaw the eviction of CN Rail from the illegal occupation of the community of Depot Harbour and secured pedestrian access to the mainland. One of the last traditional chiefs in the Robinson Huron treaty, she attempted to bring to justice to those responsible for the largest munitions explosion in Canadian history when four million pounds of nitroglycerin erupted in the reservation harbour on Aug.15, 1945.

Alice Kane will receive an honorary Doctor of Letters degree in recognition of her 60-year contribution and commitment to keeping the art of storytelling alive. Internationally recognized as a storyteller of spell-binding effect and folklorist of significant stature, Kane was a primary figure in the revitalization of storytelling that led to the establishment of the Toronto Storytellers School and the city's famed storytelling festival. A former librarian in the Toronto Public Library, Kane has done more than any other Canadian to foster and resuscitate oral literature. In lieu of a convocation address, Rita Cox, protege of the 90-year old Kane, will tell one of Kane's favourite stories.

Louise Bennett-Coverley, or Miss Lou as she is commonly known, will receive a Doctor of Letters degree for her ground-breaking contribution to Caribbean literature and performing arts, which legitimated "dialect" writing in the Caribbean. Her introduction of Jamaican Creole in literature -- which challenged the strictures of conventional definitions of literature -- her pioneering poetry, her prose monologues on radio and the tales she published, are rooted firmly in the vibrant and creative, oral-culture tradition of Jamaica. Miss Lou's written works, called sophisticated and subversive, include Laugh with Louise and Anancy and Miss Lou. Her recordings include Jamaica Folk Songs, The Honourable Miss Lou and Yes, M'Dear: Miss Lou Live.

Major-General (Ret.) Leonard V. Johnson will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree for his extraordinary service to the cause of peace. He has been, and continues to be, an important and tireless voice in the domestic and international peace movement, advocating on behalf of disarmament and the elimination of nuclear weapons. His last active position was commandant of the National Defence College of Canada. He has served as chair of the Canadian Pugwash Group, the national affiliate of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, which was the recipient in 1995 of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Kenneth E. Iverson will receive an honorary Doctor of Science degree for his outstanding achievements in computer science. A pioneer in the field and a PhD graduate from Harvard University, Iverson is an original thinker and respected scholar who developed the first interactive computer language called APL or A Programming Language. APL uses mathematical symbols to represent ideas and requirements instead of English words, making it a truly international computer language. His work helped to pioneer many of today's modern window environments, such as MS Windows.

Thomas J. Bata, honorary chairman of Bata Limited, will receive an honorary degree for his tireless work promoting the economic development of former Central and East European countries and for his leadership in the globalization of the Schulich School of Business. Following World War II, Bata emigrated to Canada at 25 and created Bata Limited, modelled after his father's footwear and trading enterprises which were nationalized by the Communist government. Bata is the founding Chair of Schulich's International Advisory Council, has provided internships for the School's International MBA (IMBA) program, and was a co-founder of the Schulich School's "Electronic Trade Mission," an initiative that brings Canadian and foreign companies face to face, using technology instead of travel. He was also a founder of the school's East/West Enterprise Exchange program (E/WEE) and today sits on its board.

Abby Hoffman will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree for her exemplary service to Canada and, in particular, to Canadian women, as an activist, leader and scholar. Hoffman has been a prominent figure on the Canadian sports scene for more than 30 years, as an athlete in track and field (representing Canada in four Olympic Games, 1964 to 1976) and as the director general of Sport Canada from 1981-91. Since then she has served as executive director of the Canadian Panel on Violence Against Women and was appointed the first director general of the newly created Women's Health Bureau.

John Robert Colombo will receive an honorary Doctor of Letters for his wide-ranging work as a leading Canadian anthologist and man-of-letters. Known nationally as a "Master Gatherer" and "the Great Collector," he has been an editor-at-large and man-of-letters since 1963 and the author, compiler or translator of 121 books, in a variety of genres. Among his many titles are: Canadian Literary Landmarks, The Stephen Leacock Quote Book, Slightly Higher in Canada and ˆˆColombo's Canadian References. An editor for two decades of The Tamarack Review, he has contributed to The Canadian Encyclopedia, The Oxford Companion to Canadian Literature, The Canadian Who's Who and Canadian Poets.

Please see accompanying convocation schedule.

For more information, please contact:

Sine MacKinnon
Senior Advisor, Media Relations
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22087
YU/045/98

#1 Glendon College - Saturday, June 6th, 1998 at 2:30 p.m.

#2 Faculty of Fine Arts, Winters College, and the Faculty of Graduate Studies - Monday, June 8th, 1998 at 2:30 p.m.

#3 Faculty of Education
B.Ed. Concurrent,
B.Ed. Consecutive Sites: Halton/York Region - Tuesday, June 9th, 1998 at 10:00 a.m.

#4 Faculty of Education
B.Ed. Consecutive Sites:
Durham, Bainbridge and Yvonne
B.Ed. (In-Service), and M.Ed. - Tuesday, June 9th, 1998 at 2:30 p.m.

#5 Vanier College - Wednesday, June 10th, 1998 at 10:00 a.m.

#6 Founders/McLaughlin Colleges - Wednesday, June 10th, 1998 at 2:30 p.m.

#7 Calumet College - Thursday, June 11th, 1998 at 10:00 a.m.

#8 N. Bethune College (Arts), Faculty of Pure & Applied Science, and the Faculty of Environmental Studies - Thursday, June 11th, 1998 at 2:30 p.m.

#9 Schulich School of Business - Friday, June 12th, 1998 at 10:00 a.m.

#10 Osgoode Hall Law School - Friday, June 12th, 1998 at 2:30 p.m.

#11 Stong College - Saturday, June 13th, 1998 at 10:00 a.m.

#12 Atkinson College - Saturday, June 13th, 1998 at 2:30 p.m.

Note:
The Glendon College ceremony will be held as usual on the West Quadrangle lawn at the Glendon Campus. All other ceremonies will be held at the Keele Street Campus: Convocation Site, east of the Centre for Film and Theatre, Centre for Fine Arts.