Clint Malarchuk - Doctor of Letters
(honoris causa) DLitt
Clint Malarchuk was born in Grand Prairie, Alberta, and played professional hockey in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Quebec Nordiques, the Washington Capitals, and the Buffalo Sabres, and in the International Hockey League (IHL) for the Las Vegas Thunder.
After leaving the NHL as a player, he served as head coach of the IHL Las Vegas Thunder and the Idaho Steelheads. He worked as a goaltending coach for the NHL’s Florida Panthers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Atlanta Thrashers and Calgary Flames.
Malarchuk suffered a serious on ice accident while tending goal for the Buffalo Sabres; a skate severed his jugular vein and he almost died on the ice in front of thousands of fans.
Living with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and depression, Malarchuk survived a suicide attempt, which finally led to treatment and recovery.
His book, The Crazy Game: How I Survived The Crease And Beyond, published in 2014, was the beginning of his mental health advocacy and charity work. Malarchuk now speaks to audiences about mental health, PTSD, depression, suicide and his own struggles with mental illness.
Nipissing University will bestow Clint Malarchuk with an honorary doctor of letters.
Dr. Lynnette Leeseberg Stamler - Doctor of Letters
(honoris causa) DLitt
Dr. Lynnette Leeseberg Stamler was born in Connecticut and carried into Canada, where she has spent most of her life and career.
She has practiced in numerous clinical areas, including the ICU, medical-surgical, dialysis, long term care, rehabilitation, and home health. She has taught all levels of nursing education, from the diploma to the doctoral degree, and within institutions ranging from community colleges to a research-intensive medical center.
The founding Director of the Nipissing University/Canadore College Collaborative Baccalaureate in Nursing program, working from 2001 to 2004, Dr. Stamler has served many roles in academia. Currently, she serves as Associate Dean for Academic Programs at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing – a college spanning multiple levels of degrees and five campuses across the state. She has served as a nursing education accreditation site visitor for both countries.
Her research interests are eclectic, including diabetes, breast health, critical thinking, and leadership; the teaching-learning process provides a common thread.
Dr. Stamler is a co-editor of the first and premier Canadian community health nursing text, Community Health Nursing: A Canadian Perspective now in its fourth edition, as well as two editions of Fundamentals of Canadian Nursing.
A leader in the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing, Dr. Stamler was the first non-sitting dean or director to be elected President, serving in this capacity from 2008-2010. She is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing.
Nipissing University will bestow Dr. Lynnette Leeseberg Stamler with an honorary doctor of letters.
Jeannette Corbiere Lavell - Doctor of Education
(honoris causa) DEd
Jeannette Corbiere Lavell was born on the Wikwemikong Reserve on Manitoulin Island in Ontario, belonging to the Nishnawbe people.
In 1970, Corbiere Lavell received notice from the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development that she was no longer considered an Indian according to the Indian Act because she had married a non-native man. She challenged section 12 of the Indian Act on the basis that it was discriminatory. The case would go to the Supreme Court of Canada which ruled that the Bill of Rights did not apply to that section of the Indian Act. It would take until 1985 for section 12 of the Indian Act to be repealed.
Corbiere Lavell is a founding member of the Ontario Native Women's Association. She was Vice-Chairwoman from 1972 to 1973 and President from 1974 to 1975. She was elected a Vice-President of the Native Women's Association of Canada. She also held the position of President of both the Nishnawbe Institute and Anduhyaun Inc.
She was a cabinet appointee to the Commission on the Native Justice System, an education/employment counsellor, and a consultant to the community for the Ontario government.
Corbiere Lavell works tirelessly against injustice. The Ontario Native Women's Association established the Jeannette Corbiere Lavell Award "to be presented annually to a deserving Native Woman demonstrating the same qualities and dedication as Jeannette".
Nipissing University will bestow Jeannette Corbiere Lavell with an honorary doctor of education.
Roy Slack - Doctor of Education
(honoris causa) DEd
Roy Slack is a professional engineer with over 35 years experience in mine construction, design, and development, on projects throughout Canada and around the world. He holds a degree in Mining Engineering from Queen’s University.
In 1998, Slack launched Cementation’s operations in North America, serving as President. Cementation is a mine contracting and engineering firm that provides design-build and construction management services to the mining sector. Today, Cementation is one of the largest mine contractors in North America and part of one of the largest mine contracting organizations in the world. The company played a role in a major international story when they worked to help rescue 33 miners who were trapped in a Chilean mine in 2010.
In 2008, Slack was awarded the Engineer’s Medal for Entrepreneurship by the Professional Engineers of Ontario. In 2009 he was presented the Metal Mining Society Award by the Canadian Institute of Mining. In 2012, Rotary International named him a Paul Harris Fellow.
Slack has been active in numerous safety initiatives. In 2013, he was appointed to the Province of Ontario’s first Prevention Council to advise the government on workplace safety. In 2017, he was appointed Incoming President Elect of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, the leading technical society of professionals in the Canadian minerals and energy industries.
Nipissing University will bestow Roy Slack with an honorary doctor of education.
Tom Jenkins - Doctor of Letters
(honoris causa) DLitt
Tom Jenkins is Chair of the Board of OpenText™ Corporation of Waterloo, the largest software company in Canada. He is also Chair of the National Research Council of Canada and the tenth Chancellor of the University of Waterloo. In addition, he is Chair of the Ontario Global 100 and a co-founder of Communitech in Waterloo.
He is the author or co-author of many popular books including: eGovernment or out of Government, Enterprise Information Management and Digital: Disrupt or Die. Jenkins co-authored with His Excellency, David Johnston, the Governor General of Canada, the book Ingenious: How Canadian Innovators Made the World Smarter, Smaller, Kinder, Safer, Healthier, Wealthier, and Happier.
Jenkins is a past member of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Government of Canada’s Competition Policy Review Panel and the Province of Ontario’s Ontario Commercialization Network Review Committee.
Jenkins is a recipient of the Ontario Entrepreneur of the Year, the McMaster Engineering L.W. Shemilt Distinguished Alumni Award and the Schulich School of Business Outstanding Executive Leadership Award. He is the recipient of the Next Canada Spotlight Award for lifetime achievement in innovation.
Jenkins is an Officer of the Order of Canada (OC) for his contributions to education and innovation in Canada.
Nipissing University will bestow Tom Jenkins with an honorary doctor of letters.