On Wednesday, June 8, the University of Alberta Faculty of Law Class of 2016 will cross the stage at the Jubilee Auditorium and receive their Juris Doctor degrees at Spring Convocation. At the ceremony, Lieutenant-General (retd) the Honourable Roméo Dallaire will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws and deliver the Convocation Address. Lt.-Gen Dallaire is one of 11 influential and inspirational figures who will receive honorary degrees as part of the 2016 Spring Convocation festivities.
"It is a tremendous honour for the University of Alberta to welcome Lt.-Gen Roméo Dallaire to Spring Convocation," said Dean Paul Paton. "A stalwart advocate for human rights, genocide prevention, and eradicating the use of child soldiers - among other humanitarian causes - Lt.-Gen Dallaire is a most worthy recipient of an honorary Doctor of Laws for his contributions to the cause of justice around the world. His focus on mental health is inspirational to a Faculty and especially to students who are leading the way in an important dialogue for the legal profession. Lt.-Gen Dallaire is the epitome of compassion, courage, and what it means to be a leader."
Lt.-Gen Dallaire had a distinguished career in the Canadian military, achieving the rank of Lieutenant General and Assistant Deputy Minister of Human Resources in the Department of National Defense. In 1994, he was in command of a United Nations assistance mission in Rwanda when extremist Hutus in the Kigali government launched the genocide against Tutsis. In spite of the escalating conflict, the United Nations denied Lt.-Gen Dallaire's requests for more troops and broader UN involvement. An estimated 800,000 Rwandans were killed in less than 100 days.
Lt.-Gen Dallaire was medically released from the military in 2002 due to post-traumatic stress disorder. He has since worked tirelessly to prevent genocide, end the recruitment of child soldiers, and advocate for veterans' mental health. A distinguished author, lecturer, and humanitarian, Lt.-Gen Dallaire has received numerous honours, including the Meritorious Service Cross and the U.S. Legion of Merit for his courage and leadership during the UN mission. He is an officer of the Order of Canada and a commander of the Order of Military Merit. His account of the Rwandan genocide, Shake Hands With the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda, won the Governor General's Award for Literary Non-Fiction in 2004.
The Spring Convocation ceremony for Class of 2016 law graduates will take place on Wednesday, June 8, at 10:00 a.m. at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. The Order of Ceremonies is available on the Office of the Registrar's website.