Five outstanding leaders to receive honorary degrees at UPEI Convocation
Five outstanding leaders will receive honorary degrees, and four graduates will deliver valedictory addresses over four Convocation ceremonies at the University of Prince Edward Island, May 14 to 17. Over 1,200 graduates comprise the Class of 2024.
“UPEI is so proud of our graduates,” said Dr. Greg Keefe, Interim President and Vice-Chancellor. “In the last four years, they worked diligently to achieve their dreams while dealing with some major challenges. Through it all, they showed an exceptional capacity to broaden their knowledge and skills and to live by UPEI’s values, in particular—inclusion, equity, diversity, and Indigenization. I look forward to greeting and congratulating each graduate as they cross the stage to receive their degrees.”
Dr. Keefe also praised this year’s honorary graduands—Mary Jeanette Gallant and Aggi-Rose Reddin, John Bragg, Reginald “Dutch” Thompson, and Gary Schneider.
“Each of these esteemed leaders is worthy of the University’s highest honour because of their significant contributions to their respective fields and communities. UPEI is very pleased to recognize their achievements and service in the areas of heritage, business, preservation of history, and the environment.”
On Tuesday, May 14, the ceremony will include the presentation of certificates, diplomas, and degrees to graduates of the Faculty of Nursing and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Honorary degrees will be conferred jointly upon Mary Jeanette Gallant and Aggi-Rose Reddin. The valedictorian will be Jessica Watts, Faculty of Nursing.
On Wednesday, May 15, the ceremony will include the presentation of certificates, diplomas, and degrees to graduates of the Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering and the McDougall Faculty of Business. An honorary degree will be conferred upon John Bragg. The valedictorian will be Bridget Patterson, Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering.
On Thursday, May 16, the ceremony will include the presentation of certificates, diplomas, and degrees to graduates of the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Education, and Faculty of Graduate Studies (Master in Global Affairs only). An honorary degree will be conferred upon Reginald “Dutch” Thompson. The valedictorian will be Sarah Legault, Faculty of Education.
On Friday, May 17, the ceremony will include the presentation of certificates, diplomas, and degrees to graduates of the Faculty of Science. An honorary degree will be conferred upon Gary Schneider. The valedictorian will be Charleigh Teefy, Faculty of Science.
Each ceremony will be held in the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, starting at 10 am. Due to safety regulations, seating at the Convocation ceremonies is limited to guests with invitations, which must be presented at the door. Guests are asked to arrive early to ensure everyone is seated at least 15 minutes before the ceremony start time as there will be no admittance once the academic procession enters the Sports Centre.
Parking is available within a five- to ten-minute walk of the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre. Please refer to the campus map for the location of general parking areas on campus. There are a number of accessible parking spots, designated by the International Symbol of Access (wheelchair) located in front of the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre and the W.A. Murphy Student Centre.
All four Convocation ceremonies will be livestreamed at upei.ca/live.
About the 2024 UPEI honorary degree recipients:
Ms. Mary Jeanette Gallant and Ms. Aggi-Rose Reddin
Ms. Mary Jeanette Gallant and Ms. Aggi-Rose Reddin led the charge in saving the historic Glenaladale estate in Tracadie Cross, PEI—home to Captain John MacDonald and the Glenaladale settlers of 1772—when it was listed for sale in 2012. In 2015, the Glenaladale Heritage Trust, which oversees the restoration and preservation of the estate, was incorporated. In 2018, the Trust obtained title to the estate with funding from the Canadian Heritage Cultural Spaces Program and additional financing from the Province of PEI. In 2021, the Trust received significant grants from the federal and provincial governments, further affirming its historical significance.
A direct descendant of the Glenaladale MacDonalds, Ms. Gallant, of Mount Stewart, PEI, is the founding chair of the Trust, overseeing the ongoing operations at Glenaladale. She conducts tours and gives presentations, continuing to present the historic importance of the estate and seeking financial support for its restoration. Through her work with the Trust, she has established numerous local, national, and international connections. Ms. Gallant has been involved for many years with the PEI Scottish Settlers Historical Society, especially the genealogy of the MacDonalds. She has extensive knowledge of many of the Scottish families on PEI and expertise in presenting their stories.
Ms. Gallant is an artisan who was trained as a caner (creating and replacing cane and rush chair seats) by a traditional artist and is owner of Maple Hill Caner. She recently retired as office manager of MacAskill Woodworking in Charlottetown.
Ms. Reddin, of Savage Harbour, PEI, is the founding vice-chair of the Trust. She is a visionary and an accomplished writer who is highly respected in the arts and cultural community. Her past positions include president of the PEI Environmental Health Cooperative, instructor at Holland College, and treasurer of the PEI Multicultural Council. She was part of a team that was awarded a 2021 Heritage Recognition Award for an interactive virtual story map of the Hillsborough River.
Ms. Gallant and Ms. Reddin were key players in the Glenaladale Heritage Trust receiving the National Trust for Canada Awards: This Place Matters in 2017 and the Governors’ Award in 2018. Glenaladale was also recognized by the Community Foundation of PEI in 2019. They served on the “Alexander” committee of the PEI Scottish Settlers Historical Society, helping to produce the book, Glenaladale Settlers 1772, published in 2016. A new version was published in 2022 to mark the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the arrival of the Glenaladale settlers, which was held at the estate.
They also played leading roles in the digital file transformation into book form of A History of Mount Stewart Illustrated and Extended Edition by Frank Pigot in 2017 and Helen MacDonald of Glenaladale—Miss Nelly.
Mr. John Bragg, CC, ONS
Mr. John Bragg, of Oxford, Nova Scotia, is one of Canada’s most successful business founders and leaders. Born in Springhill, Nova Scotia, in 1941, Mr. Bragg received a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a Bachelor of Education degree from Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick, in 1962 and 1963 respectively. Following completion of his studies, he founded Oxford Frozen Foods Limited in 1968, now an international leader in the frozen food industry specializing in wild blueberries grown in Nova Scotia. He became involved in the hospitality industry in 1967 with the late David Rodd, owning and operating two hotel properties in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. (The Rodd Grand Hotel in Yarmouth continues to serve visitors to that area today.) In 1970, Mr. Bragg founded Bragg Communications, now Eastlink, which provides cable and telecommunications services in almost all major centres of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island as well as other provinces of Canada. He is regarded as a pioneer in this industry.
Mr. Bragg has served on or currently serves as a director on the boards of many Canadian companies including TD Bank Financial Group, Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Canada Bread Limited, Empire Company Limited, and Sobeys Inc. He is deeply committed to community, higher education, and other philanthropic causes. Through their River Philip Foundation, he and his wife Judy, who was granted an honorary degree from UPEI in 2010, have contributed to several universities. At UPEI, most recently, they provided a leadership gift to support the new Catherine Callbeck Centre for Entrepreneurship. They also made a significant donation to support human health research facilities at the Atlantic Veterinary College in memory of the late Mr. Rodd and supported the Fulbright Chair in NutriSciences and Health. They created a scholarship in memory of Mr. Rodd—the David W. Rodd Scholarship in Tourism and Hospitality. Mr. Bragg also provided leadership and support in raising funds for UPEI’s Alexander Bradshaw Campbell Entrance Scholarships. He has supported other important organizations including the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the Multiple Sclerosis Scientific Research Foundation, and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
He has been awarded honorary degrees from eight universities and colleges, including Mount Allison University, Dalhousie University, Acadia University, St. Francis Xavier, and Cape Breton University. His many honours include being named a Companion of the Order of Canada in 2022 and being inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2023.
Mr. Reginald “Dutch” Thompson
Mr. Reginald “Dutch” Thompson, of Bunbury, PEI, is a retired theatre lighting designer and technician and a passionate oral historian and storyteller. He is best known for his CBC Radio program, “The Bygone Days,” which has aired for 34 years with more than 1,200 broadcasts.
Mr. Thompson has amassed 1,100 hours of interviews with people born between 1894 and 1932, 900 hours of which have been digitalized and preserved by the UPEI Robertson Library in the “Dutch Thompson Collection.” His research has been used by scholars and amateur historians all around the world and has been the basis of or used in countless MA and PhD dissertations, refereed journal articles, and family and local histories. In 2019, he published a book, The Bygone Days, based on many of the interviews he compiled.
He was historical advisor and locations scout for five seasons of the CBC TV production, Emily of New Moon, and has performed as a storyteller at multiple Small Halls Festivals and many charity and fundraising events. He has been an advisor and resource for numerous heritage and historical societies on PEI and donated his research, time, and storytelling skills to countless community organizations.
Mr. Thompson has received six Heritage Awards from the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation, including the prestigious Award of Honour in 2016 and the Boyde Beck Memorial Award for oral history and storytelling in 2018, as well as the City of Charlottetown Heritage Award and the Queen’s Jubilee Medal.
Mr. Thompson attended Charlottetown Rural High School; holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dalhousie University; and did graduate studies at St. Francis Xavier University.
Mr. Gary Schneider
Mr. Gary Schneider, of Stratford, PEI, is a lifelong learner who strives to constantly improve his knowledge and skills. His pioneering spirit and love of learning, combined with an evidence-based philosophy, have achieved notable results.
Mr. Schneider is the founder and coordinator of the Macphail Woods Ecological Project, which includes a teaching space, native plant nursery, greenhouse, arboretum, and trails. In this role, he coordinated the extensive development and growth of various community programs since the project’s inception. Examples include the School of Woodland Ecology; summer day camps, chainsaw safety training, native plant propagation and sales, and forest restoration projects, with the goal of enhancing PEI forests and connecting Islanders with the ecosystems around them.
Other positions include developer and co-instructor of a field course on ecological forestry for UPEI and Acadia University; independent writer and editor; and founding member of the Kings Forestry Cooperative Limited. He participated in the journalism and advertising program at the Niagara College of Applied Arts and Technology from 1973–1974. He is a leader in sustainable forest management and stewardship of public lands on PEI and an advocate at the provincial and federal levels for the protection of the environment.
Mr. Schneider has received numerous awards for his work, including the Order of PEI in 2022; the Canadian Museum of Natural History’s 2020 Adult Inspiration Award; the Charlottetown Royalty Rotary Club’s 2018 Mentor Award; and Canadian Geographic’s Gold Medal for Restoration and Rehabilitation in 2004.
