A distinguished list of three Canadians, including one of McMaster University's most famous alumni – comedian Dave Thomas – will receive honorary degrees during Fall convocation ceremonies on Friday, Nov. 20 in the Great Hall of Hamilton Place.

Degrees will be awarded to the graduating classes of the DeGroote School of Business, the Faculty of Humanities, the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Arts and Science Program, during the morning ceremony, which begins at 9:30 a.m.

Thomas will receive a Doctor of Letters and will speak to the graduands during the ceremony. He graduated from McMaster University in 1972 with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Literature.

Thomas first achieved fame as a founding member of SCTV, where he created one of his best known and enduring characters, Doug McKenzie. Thomas also appeared in many major motion picture comedies, including Beethoven's 5th and Coneheads and appeared on the network comedy Grace Under Fire for five seasons. He reprised the role of Doug McKenzie in the animated series Bob & Doug, which premiered earlier this year.

The conferring of degrees to the Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Health Sciences will take place the same day at 2:30 p.m.

During the morning ceremony, Thomas Kierans, vice president and chair of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, will receive a Doctor of Laws. During the afternoon ceremony, Frank Graham, distinguished university professor (emeritus) of biology and pathology & molecular medicine at McMaster, will receive a Doctor of Science.

Honorary degree recipients are recognized for their contributions in such areas as public service, education and scholarship, creative and performing arts, and for their work within the McMaster community.

McMaster University's guidelines for the awarding of honorary degrees are available here.