Three individuals whose work has contributed to Canada’s civic life and public discourse—Judy Rebick, Dr. Mike DeGagné, and Desmond Cole—will each receive an honorary Doctor of Laws from Trent University in recognition of their national leadership in advancing women’s rights, Indigenous reconciliation and education, and Black rights in Canada. 

“Trent’s 2026 honorary degree recipients are trailblazers whose work has shaped public discourse in Canada. Each has demonstrated a combination of leadership and resolve, advancing responsive policy and practice,” says Dr. Cathy Bruce, president and vice-chancellor of Trent University. “Their contributions have strengthened civic understanding and remind us of the role education plays in preparing individuals to engage thoughtfully with the world. We are proud to recognize their impact and to celebrate them alongside our graduates.”  

Honorary degrees are the University’s highest honour and are conferred during Convocation ceremonies, which take place June 2 to 10 in Peterborough and on June 12 in Oshawa.  

Judy Rebick – Wednesday, June 3, 2026, 2:00 p.m. ceremony, Peterborough
Judy Rebick is a writer, journalist, and political activist recognized as one of Canada’s leading feminist voices. In the early 1980s, she played a prominent role in winning legal abortion in Canada and later served as president of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women, fighting to improve sexual assault criminal code, supporting Indigenous women’s constitutional rights, pioneering anti-racist transformation and making the feminist movement a powerful force in the country. Her advocacy has also championed Indigenous rights as well as supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, people with disabilities, and the labour movement. Rebick has authored several books, hosted two national CBC television programs, and founded rabble.ca, one of Canada’s leading independent online news platforms. 

Mike DeGagné – Thursday, June 4, 2026, 2:00 p.m. ceremony, Peterborough
Dr. Mike DeGagné, a member of Northwest Angle 37 First Nation, is a distinguished leader in Indigenous education and reconciliation. As founding executive director of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, a national Indigenous organization addressing the legacy of Canada’s Residential School system, he helped lay important groundwork for reconciliation. With his appointment as president and vice chancellor of Nipissing University, he became one of the first Indigenous presidents of a Canadian public university, advancing inclusive approaches to higher education. DeGagné also held the position of president and CEO of Indspire, Canada’s largest Indigenous-led charity, overseeing national programs that support and invest in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students. His leadership has been recognized through numerous honours, including the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario, and the Indspire Award for Public Service. 

Desmond Cole – Friday, June 12, 2026, 2:00 p.m. ceremony, Durham
Desmond Cole is an award-winning journalist, author, and broadcaster whose work has brought critical issues including racial profiling, police accountability, and immigration justice, to the forefront of national debate. He is widely recognized for his 2015 Toronto Life article, “The Skin I’m In,” which sparked a nationwide reckoning on police carding and earned three National Magazine Awards. His bestselling book, The Skin We’re In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power, won the Toronto Book Award and was shortlisted for the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing.  

Further details of Trent’s in-person convocation ceremonies, including full profiles of all 2026 honorary degree recipients, can be found at trentu.ca/convocation.