Sandra Laronde receives an Honorary Degree

“The University Senate was unanimous in its approval of these distinguished individuals as Trent University’s honorary degree recipients for 2011,” said Dr. Steven E. Franklin, president and vice-chancellor at Trent. “All distinguished Canadians who have contributed significantly to our society and our world, each will represent a unique and powerful perspective to our graduates at Trent’s 44th convocation ceremonies.”

Trent University’s 2011 convocation ceremonies will be held over a three-day period, with two ceremonies on June 1 and June 2, and one ceremony on June 3.

Each of the following individuals will be presented with an honorary degree at this year’s ceremonies and includes: The Right Honourable Kim Campbell, Craig Kielburger, Rick Beaver, Lauren Woolstencroft, and of course, our very own Sandra Laronde.

Ms. Sandra Laronde
June 1 – Afternoon Ceremony
Internationally-acclaimed, award-winning director, producer, choreographer, performer and creative leader. Ms. Laronde created Red Sky, Canada’s leading company for contemporary world Indigenous performance in dance, theatre and music. Since its inception in 2000, Red Sky performances have captured the imagination of close to 350,000 people from six countries on four continents. Her world stage line-up includes the multi-award winning Tono at the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad; opening for the 2010 World Expo Shanghai in China; 2008 Beijing Cultural Olympiad; and the International Arts and Culture Festival in Inner Mongolia, among others. Currently, Ms. Laronde is also the Director of Aboriginal Arts at The Banff Centre, the globally respected arts and cultural institution.

Awards include: the Dora Mavor Moore Award for excellence in the performing arts; two awards at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, Good Citizenship Medal; Paul D. Fleck Fellowship in the Arts from The Banff Centre; Toronto City Council’s Aboriginal Affairs Award; and was one of 225 promising leaders selected to participate in the Governor-General’s Canadian Leadership program.

Ms. Laronde holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Toronto, and studied Spanish Language and Literature overseas for one year at the University of Granada in Spain. Currently, she is a member of the National Executive Committee for the 2012 Governor-General’s Canadian Leadership Conference, and sits on the Aboriginal Advisory for the Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto.

Ms. Laronde is originally from the Teme-Augama-Anishnaabe (People of the Deep Water) in Temagami, northern Ontario.