Doctor of Letters
(honoris causa) DLitt
Jerome Berthelette is the Assistant Auditor General with the Office of the Auditor General of Canada, a position he was appointed to in 2009. As Assistant Auditor General, he is responsible for the performance audits of National Defence Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada, Health Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada and Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, as well as the three Territories. Mr. Berthelette was seconded to the Auditor General’s Office from Health Canada in 2001 when he assumed responsibilities for the Aboriginal issues portfolio. He joined the Auditor General’s Office in 2004 as the Principal responsible for Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. In 2008, he became the Principal responsible for National Defence Canada. Mr. Berthelette previously worked with Health Canada in the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch. He was also Secretary to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples and the Executive Director of the National Association of Friendship Centres. His volunteer work includes serving on the board and executive of the N’Amerind Friendship Center and the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres and on the board of the National Association of Friendship Centres. He served on the board and executive of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation and the Vanier Institute of the Family. He was presented the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal by the Vanier Institute of the Family. Mr. Berthelette holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Nipissing University (1976) and a Law degree from the University of Western Ontario. He is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada.
Mr. Berthelette received an honorary doctorate of letters and delivered the convocation address on June 9 at 2:00 p.m.