Graduates of York University will cross the stage during 2025 Spring Convocation ceremonies, running from June 12 to 20.
Over the course of 14 ceremonies, York will confer honorary degrees to six influential changemakers who will receive an honorary doctor of laws (LLD).
Honorary degree recipients are recognized for their contributions to community building, their advocacy for social justice and their philanthropy, and will offer words of encouragement, motivation and congratulations to graduands.
Below are the honorary degree recipients in order of the Faculty ceremonies at which they will be honoured:
François Boileau: June 12, 10 a.m. – Glendon College
François Boileau serves as Canada’s Taxpayers’ ombudsperson, where he works to ensure fair and respectful treatment of taxpayers by the CRA. With nearly three decades of experience in oversight and governance, he previously served as Ontario’s French Language Services Commissioner. In both roles, Boileau has championed transparency, accountability and equitable service, using his expertise to address systemic issues and improve public trust in government institutions.
Kelly LaRocca: June 12, 2 p.m. – Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change; Faculty of Science I
Kelly LaRocca is Chief of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, a role she has held since 2013. A lawyer by training, she holds degrees from Western University and the University of Windsor and studied Aboriginal law at the University of Victoria. She is an advocate for Indigenous rights and played a pivotal role in the historic 2018 Williams Treaties settlement – one of Canada’s largest – and led her community to secure clean drinking water in 2021. Deeply committed to her people, LaRocca lives on Scugog Island with her partner and two children.
Malcolm King: June 18, 10:30 a.m. – Faculty of Science II; Faculty of Health III
Malcolm King is a leading Indigenous health researcher and professor at the University of Saskatchewan. A member of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, he has dedicated his career to advancing wellness and equity for Indigenous communities. He served as scientific director of the Candian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Aboriginal Peoples’ Health, shaping national research priorities. He is a fellow of both the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and the Royal Society of Canada. He lives and works on his ancestral territory in New Credit, Ontario.
Wayne Isaacs: June 19, 3:30 p.m. – Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies III
Wayne Isaacs is a Jamaican-born Canadian entrepreneur known for building businesses in developing economies across over 25 countries. He has served as chairman, director and CEO of over 30 publicly listed companies and is a speaker at international conferences. A graduate of Western University and a lead mentor at York University, Isaacs is also a dedicated philanthropist supporting scholarships, affordable housing in Jamaica and mobile vision care across the Caribbean. Isaacs lives in Canada with his wife Winsome and their three sons Jeremy, Zachary and Noah.
Nick Nurse: June 20, 10:30 a.m. – School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design; Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies IV
Nick Nurse is the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers and one of basketball’s most innovative minds. From coaching in the British Basketball League to winning an NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors, Nurse’s career is defined by bold moves and big wins. A native of Iowa, he holds a PhD in sports leadership and is also an avid musician. Nurse lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and their three sons, balancing his love for basketball with a passion for lifelong learning and creativity.
Angela Swan: June 20, 3:30 p.m. – Osgoode Hall Law School
Angela Swan is a distinguished legal scholar and counsel at Aird Berlis LLP, where she contributes her expertise in contract, corporate and conflict of laws. A life member of the Law Society of Ontario, she has taught at leading institutions including the University of Toronto, McGill and Osgoode Hall Law School. Her co-authored text, Canadian Contract Law, is a foundational work in the field and winner of the Walter Owen Book Prize. Swan has received numerous honours, including the Order of Canada, and honorary doctorates from McGill and the Law Society of Ontario. Beyond her professional achievements, she finds her greatest joy in her five children and 14 grandchildren.