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The University of New Brunswick will award honorary degrees to five outstanding individuals at its spring graduation ceremonies in Fredericton and Saint John on May 16, 17 and 18.

Ann Brennan will receive a doctor of letters degree in Fredericton on May 16 at 10 a.m. She is a historical novelist, environmentalist, government policy activist, community leader, author and businesswoman. In 1998, at the age of 56, she fulfilled a lifelong dream and earned her bachelor of arts with honours in history from UNB. She went on to complete a master’s degree in environmental history, also from UNB, with a thesis on deep ecology and James Lovelock’s Gaia theory.

J. Keith McIntosh will receive a doctor of science degree in Fredericton on May 16 at 2:30 p.m. He is a successful entrepreneur and business leader who is committed to the growth of New Brunswick. He is the founder, co-CEO and president of the software testing service Professional Quality Assurance Ltd. (PQA) and the founder of Professional Aboriginal Testing Organization Inc. (PLATO).

Justice J. Ernest Drapeau will receive a doctor of laws degree in Fredericton on May 17 at 10 a.m. He completed his bachelor of arts at Université de Moncton. He received a Lord Beaverbrook Scholarship and attended law school at the University of New Brunswick (1974). His versatile legal career ranged from criminal and private civil law to public interest litigation. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1990 and Chief Justice of New Brunswick in 2003.

Dr. David T. Lynch will receive a doctor of science degree in Fredericton on May 17 at 2:30 p.m. received his bachelor of science in chemical engineering from UNB in 1977, and completed his PhD in chemical engineering at the University of Alberta in 1982. Dr. Lynch joined the faculty at the University of Alberta as an assistant professor in 1981. His teaching and research have focused on the area of catalytic reaction engineering.

Roxanne Fairweather will receive a doctor of letters degree in Saint John on May 18 at 2 p.m. She holds a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Toronto and is an honorary alumna of the University of New Brunswick, where she served on its Board of Governors from 2003-2015. She was the 12th modern-day Board Chair, and the second female to serve in that role. Currently, she holds the honorary distinction of Governor Emerita, in recognition for her exceptional contributions to the Board through leadership and service.

Additional information related to UNB’s spring graduation ceremonies can be found at unb.ca/graduation.

Media contacts

• Fredericton: Hannah Classen
• Saint John: Heather Campbell