Stephen Stohn
Dr. Stephen Stohn ’66 (Champlain College) is a well-respected entertainment lawyer, award-winning producer, songwriter and author who has enjoyed an outstanding career in the entertainment industry since graduating from Trent in 1969.
A Canadian entertainment industry powerhouse, Stephen is a 14-time Canadian Screen Award winner (formerly the Gemini Awards) who may be best known as the executive producer of the Degrassi television franchise.
As the president of Skystone Media Inc. and its related companies, Stephen has also been the executive producer of numerous other television series including Instant Star.
For nearly 20 years, Stephen worked for Canada’s biggest music awards, serving as executive producer and then chair of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which organizes the Junos.
Also serving as an attorney, Stephen is a founding partner in the law firm, Stohn Hay Cafazzo Dembroski Richmond LLP where he provides legal advice to those in the entertainment industry.
For his innumerable contributions to the industry, Stephen was inducted into the Canadian Music & Broadcast Industry Hall of Fame in 2011.
Throughout his illustrious career, Stephen has remained deeply involved with Trent, starting his legacy at the University he was a Trent student. As a student, he co-founded Trent’s student newspaper, Arthur, as well as Trent Radio – both of which are still widely known on campus and in the Peterborough community. In 1968, he participated in the Great Walk, a 17 km hike from Trent to Curve Lake First Nation to celebrate the friendship between Trent and the community. In the same year, he participated in the opening event for the iconic Faryon Bridge.
His contributions continued over the years as his transformational philanthropic support for Trent has been key in the development of several projects, including a remarkable gift to make the stunning new Student Centre a reality. Stohn Hall, the Student Centre’s 200-seat tiered theatre for lectures, special events and performances, was named in his honour.
He was presented with a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2007, presented for his leadership and achievements in his professional and public life. In 2015, Trent presented him with an honorary degree – the University’s highest honour. In 2019, he became Trent’s second alumnus chancellor, following in the footsteps of Dr. Don Tapscott ’66 (Champlain College). Stephen served in the role for seven years, advocating for students and championing Trent’s collegiate system. Colleagues and peers described him as an exceptional and passionate ambassador for the University, whose commitment extended well beyond the ceremonial duties of the chancellorship and made him a dynamic presence in campus life. In 2026, Stephen and his wife, Linda Schuyler ’18 (hon), made a $1 million investment supporting a first of its kind partnership with Kids Help Phone and Trent University.
In 2023, Stephen was named a member of the prestigious Order of Canada in recognition of his long-time contributions to the Canadian entertainment industry, notably as a television producer, lawyer, mentor and advocate for artists. Also in 2023, Stephen and Linda were inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame on behalf of the iconic Degrassi franchise, which Schuyler created and Stohn produced.
In 2024, Music Publishers Canada honoured the pair with a Lifetime Achievement Award in the Builders Category, recognizing their work, which “changed the way music is used in film and television in Canada”.
Upon the conclusion of his term as Chancellor, the University renamed its Eminent Service Award as the Stephen Stohn Eminent Service Award. Created in 1978, the award recognizes faculty, staff, and volunteers whose outstanding contributions have had a lasting impact on University life. It now carries the name of a chancellor whose enthusiastic involvement across the Trent community came to reflect the spirit of eminent service.
The University also established the Stephen Stohn Award, a new college prize supporting undergraduate students pursuing graduate studies. The award recognizes academic achievement, leadership, and a commitment to hope, creativity, perseverance, and social justice, values that shaped Stohn’s vision for Trent.
Stephen was also presented with the Tony Storey Award for long-term alumni volunteer leadership and an Emerald Circle pin recognizing alumni who have served as chancellor. On the Otonabee River, a new quad rowing shell donated by his longtime friend Hunter Thompson was christened in his honour.