Paul Martin, Buzz Hargrove among honorary degree recipients for Spring convocation

Former Prime Minister of Canada Paul Martin, former Canadian Auto Workers
national president Buzz Hargrove and comedian Steve Smith are among the prominent
figures who are to receive
honorary degrees at McMaster University's Spring convocation.

Martin, who is to address social sciences graduands at the afternoon convocation
June
16, served as Prime Minister from 2003 to 2006. A lawyer and business executive,
Martin was first elected to Parliament in 1988, and while serving as Minister of Finance
from 1993 to 2002 recorded five budget surpluses.

Hargrove, who is to speak to morning social sciences convocation earlier the same
day,
started as an auto worker in Windsor and went on to become national president of the
CAW, a post he held from 1992 to 2008, when he led the union through a period of
tremendous upheaval in the auto sector. Hargrove is now external director of the Centre
for Labour-Management Relations in the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson
University.

Smith, the writer and actor behind the internationally popular Red Green Show, will
address humanities and Arts &
Sciences graduands.

Approximately 5,400 students will graduate in May and June this year. Honorary
degree
recipients are recognized for contributions in such areas as public service, education
and scholarship, creative and performing arts, and for work within the McMaster
community.

Convocation will take place at Hamilton Place. Where two or more people are listed
as
honorary degree recipients, an asterisk indicates the recipient who will address the
convocation.

Here is a list of honorary degree recipients for Spring 2011 convocations:

Faculty of Health Sciences

Friday May 20, 2:30 p.m.

Dr. Jack Gauldie (Doctor of Science), a McMaster professor of pathology and
molecular medicine, pioneer in gene therapeutics and international expert in the
molecular forces at play in inflammation and immunity.

Faculty of Humanities

Monday, June 13, 2:30 p.m.

Steve Smith (Doctor of Letters), comedian, writer, actor and creator of the
internationally popular Red Green Show.

Faculty of Science (Biochemistry, Biology, Earth and Environmental Sciences,
Geoscience, Kinesiology, Molecular Biology, Neural Computation, Psychology, Behaviour
and Neuroscience)

Tuesday June 14, 9:30 a.m.

Dr. Francis (Frank) Plummer (Doctor of Science), scientific director of Canada's
National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, a Canada Research Chair in Resistance
and Susceptibility to Infections, and a global leader in HIV/AIDS research.

Faculty of Science (Graduands in a single or combined program with majors in
Science programs not included in the morning ceremony)

Tuesday June 14, 2:30 p.m.

M.S. Swaminathan (Doctor of Science), an Indian agricultural scientist and world
leader in sustainable agriculture and food security. He received the first World Food
Prize in 1987.

Faculty of Business

Wednesday, June 15. 9:30 a.m.

Suzanne Labarge (Doctor of Letters), retired vice-chairman and chief risk officer
at RBC, who earned her undergraduate degree in economics at McMaster and her MBA at
Harvard Business School. Labarge is a member of McMaster's Board of Governors.

Faculty of Social Sciences (Geography, Gerontology, Health Studies,
Psychology, Behaviour & Neuroscience,
Social Work, Sociology,

Thursday June 16, 9:30 a.m.

Basil (Buzz) Hargrove* (Doctor of Laws), former national president of the
Canadian Auto Workers and now at Ryerson University's Rogers School of Management.

Dr. Harry Waisglass (Doctor of Laws), the first director of McMaster's Labour
Studies Program and former Director-General of Research and Information at the
Canadian Department of Labour.

Faculty of Social Sciences (Anthropology, Economics, Kinesiology, Labour
Studies, Political Science, Religious
Studies)

Thursday, June 16, 2:30 p.m.

The Rt. Hon. Paul Martin (Doctor of Laws) 21st Prime Minister of Canada, 2003
to 2006.

School of Nursing and Medical Radiation Sciences

Friday June 17, 9:30 a.m.

Sister Simone Roach (Doctor of Laws), an influential educator in nursing who
established the first code of ethics for nurses in Canada.

Faculty of Engineering

Friday, June 17, 2:30 p.m.

Gary Purdy (Doctor of Science), a distinguished professor of Materials Science and
Engineering and former Dean of Engineering who has made major contributions to the
study of microstructure development in engineering materials.