Paralympian Jason Dunkerley, comedian Jonny Harris among honorary degree recipients at fall convocation

WATERLOO and BRANTFORD - As part of Wilfrid Laurier University's fall convocation ceremonies, Paralympian Jason Dunkerley, actor and comedian Jonny Harris, and investment leader Ed Devlin will receive honorary degrees. Indigenous leader and advocate Iris Catholique will receive the Order of Wilfrid Laurier University.

Waterloo campus ceremonies take place at Lazaridis Hall on Oct. 14, 15 and 16. The Brantford campus ceremony will be held at the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts on Oct. 20.

Iris Catholique, Order of Wilfrid Laurier University
Oct. 14, 9:30 a.m., Waterloo

Iris Catholique is an Indigenous leader, conservation steward and advocate whose work has helped shape one of Canada's most significant Indigenous-led protected areas. A member of the Łutsël K'é Dene First Nation in the Northwest Territories, the Yellowknife-born Catholique was raised on the land in Lutsël K'é (home community) by her family and Elders, learning traditional Dënesųłıné knowledge, harvesting practices and values that continue to guide her leadership today. For more than two decades, she has served her community in various roles. In 2019, she became manager of the Thaidene Nëné Indigenous Protected Area, a 26,000-square-kilometre landscape whose name translates to "Land of Our Ancestors." In this role, she oversees conservation initiatives, supports the Ni Hat'ni Dene Guardians program, advances cultural and food security programming, and helps ensure the land is protected for future generations. Catholique has also fostered meaningful partnerships between Indigenous communities and researchers, including long-standing collaborations with Laurier faculty members and graduate students. Her leadership has strengthened community-based research, environmental monitoring and knowledge sharing while ensuring benefits flow back to community members.

Ed Devlin, Honorary Doctor of Laws
Oct. 15, 1:30 p.m., Waterloo

Ed Devlin is the founder and managing partner of Devlin Capital, an investment firm focused on the global fixed income markets. A graduate of Laurier with a Bachelor of Business Administration, Devlin was awarded the university's Gold Medal for academic excellence. He earned an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Before founding Devlin Capital, Devlin spent nearly 15 years at Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO) as a managing director and head of Canadian portfolio management. He co-founded PIMCO Canada, helping grow its assets to more than $50 billion from Canadian clients. Between 2009 and 2014, Devlin was based in London, U.K., serving on the European Portfolio Committee, which oversaw more than US$500 billion in assets. Prior to PIMCO, Devlin held senior roles with Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch, working in London, Tokyo, Toronto, Hong Kong and New York. He is a senior fellow at the C.D. Howe Institute. Devlin also chairs the endowment board of the Stratford Festival.

Jonny Harris, Honorary Doctor of Letters
Oct. 16, 1:30 p.m., Waterloo

Jonny Harris is an award-winning actor, comedian, writer and producer whose work has made him one of Canada's most beloved entertainers. He is a writer, producer and the host of CBC's Still Standing, a TV series highlighting the resilience and spirit of small-town Canada. He has earned nine Canadian Screen Awards for Still Standing as well as national recognition for championing Canadian communities through humour, compassion and storytelling. Born and raised in Pouch Cove, NL, Harris broke into entertainment through stand-up comedy with appearances at the Halifax Comedy Festival, Winnipeg Comedy Festival, Montreal's Just for Laughs Festival and CBC Radio's The Debaters. He also served as a staff writer for This Hour Has 22 Minutes and as a contributing writer and star of Mary Walsh's Hatching, Matching and Dispatching. He is perhaps best known for portraying Constable George Crabtree on CBC's Murdoch Mysteries, earning multiple Gemini and Canadian Screen Award nominations along the way.

Jason Dunkerley, Honorary Doctor of Laws
Oct. 20, 2 p.m., Brantford

Jason Dunkerley is a celebrated Paralympian, author and advocate whose life story exemplifies resilience, perseverance and hope. Born blind due to Leber's congenital amaurosis, a rare inherited eye condition, Dunkerley discovered running as a student and went on to build one of Canada's most distinguished Paralympic track careers. Representing Canada at five Paralympic Games between 2000 and 2016, he earned five Paralympic medals, in addition to his four world championship titles and multiple Parapan American Games medals. After immigrating from Northern Ireland to Canada, Dunkerley attended the W. Ross Macdonald School for the Blind in Brantford. He credits that school's educators with playing a transformative role in his journey, leading him to publicly champion the impact of teaching and mentorship. Dunkerley has overcome significant challenges throughout his life, including suffering injuries after being struck by a car, donating a kidney to a family member and coping with profound personal loss. His 2024 autobiography, Visions of Hope: Running Towards My Own Truth, reflects on these experiences with honesty and insight.

Tickets are required for all Laurier convocation ceremonies. Members of the media are asked to RSVP to attend. For more information about convocation, visit wlu.ca/convocation.