Trent University will honour more than 2,600 graduates – the largest graduating class in University history – during 2023 convocation ceremonies across both its Peterborough and Durham Greater Toronto Area campuses.  

A record 2,266 undergraduates and the largest class of graduate students—357 Ph.D., masters and diploma graduates—will be celebrated across 12 ceremonies at both campuses. Peterborough ceremonies are taking place June 6-9 and June 12-13. Trent University Durham GTA convocation ceremonies will take place on Friday, June 16 at the Tribute Communities Centre in Oshawa to celebrate 425 graduates—the largest graduating class in Trent Durham history. 

Additional highlights of this year’s ceremonies in Peterborough include the first cohort of graduates from Trent/Swansea Law Dual Degree, as well as first graduates from several new programs, including the Ph.D. in Indigenous Studies, Knowledge Basket Stream, M.Sc. in Anthropology, and postgraduate certificates in Teaching English as a Foreign Language.  

A record number of convocation ambassador volunteers will support ceremonies: 170 staff, students, faculty, retirees, and alumni across both campuses will be on site to direct students as well as greet and assist guests. 

Friends, families, and grads can watch the ceremonies live at trentu.ca/live, follow @Trent_Alumni and @TrentUniversity on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and share their own comments and photos during the events using the hashtag #TrentUGrad.  

Honorary Degree Recipients

During this year’s ceremonies in Peterborough and Durham, the University will bestow honorary degrees upon four social changemakers, recognized for their extraordinary contributions to society.  

In Peterborough, honorary degrees will be bestowed upon:  

• Master Warrant Officer Moogly J.J.E.G. Tetrault-Hamel (June 7 - morning ceremony) distinguished member of Canadian Armed Forces and Indigenous rights advocate;  

• Drew Hayden Taylor (June 7 - afternoon ceremony) award-winning playwright, journalist, filmmaker, and humorist;  

• Dr. K. Jennifer 'Jenny' Ingram MD (June 12 - afternoon ceremony) specialist in Internal and Geriatric Medicine, Trent adjunct professor, and accomplished community leader. 

Former Ontario minister of Health and deputy premier Christine Elliott will be presented with an honorary degree at the Trent University Durham GTA convocation ceremony on Friday, June 16 at 2 p.m. 

Dr. Stephen Stohn, chancellor of Trent University, will also address graduates at convocation. 

Student Awards

During the 2023 Peterborough convocation ceremonies, Trent will honour several of its most accomplished students with special awards:  

• The Governor General’s Academic Medal to reward scholastic merit was established in 1873 by the Earl of Dufferin who served as Governor General of Canada from 1872 to 1878. The Silver Medal, presented to the undergraduate student with the highest academic standing, is awarded to Cassandra Van Dorp, Chemistry. The Gold Medal for highest academic standing in graduate programs is awarded to Megan Aoki, Environmental & Life Sciences.  

• The President's Medal, established in 2009, will be awarded to three graduate students who achieved academic excellence in several degree programs: Catherine Davis, Indigenous Studies Ph.D.; Shannon Jarvis, Applied Modelling & Quantitative Methods M.Sc.; and Cynthia Rankin, Public Texts M.A. 

• The Symons Medal, established in 1972 in honour of Trent’s founding president T.H.B. Symons, will be awarded to four undergraduate students in the honours program who achieve high overall standing on graduation: Kerri Mozessohn, Psychology; Runtian Zhou, Mathematics; Mackenzie Walker, Child & Youth Studies; and Megan Risebrough, Computer Science. 

• The Bagnani Medal, established in 1986 to honour the late founding faculty member Professor Gilbert Bagnani, will be awarded to two students in the General program who achieve high overall standing on graduation: Vincent Nguyen, Mathematics; and Matthew Sims, Psychology. 

Convocation Schedule

A detailed breakdown of each convocation ceremony in Peterborough is as follows: 

Tuesday, June 6, 2023 – 2 p.m. ceremony: 

Degrees will be conferred for Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts Honours, Bachelor of Science Honours, joint degrees with Business Administration, and all postgraduate certificates. 

Wednesday, June 7, 2023 – 10 a.m. ceremony: 

Degrees will be conferred for the Trent/Swansea Law Dual Degree program, Bachelor of Arts Honours and Bachelor of Arts General in Ancient Greek & Roman Studies, Canadian Studies, Cultural Studies, English Literature, French Studies, Gender & Social Justice, History, Indigenous Studies, Journalism, Media Studies and Philosophy. Diplomas will be presented for Foundations of Indigenous Learning. Master Warrant Officer Moogly J.J.E.G. Tetrault-Hamel will receive an honorary doctorate of laws. 

Wednesday, June 7, 2023 – 2 p.m. ceremony: 

Degrees will be conferred for Bachelor of Education, Indigenous Bachelor of Education, and Bachelor of Social Work. Drew Hayden Taylor will receive an honorary doctorate of letters.  

Thursday, June 8, 2023 – 10 a.m. ceremony: 

Degrees will be conferred for Bachelor of Environmental Science/Studies, Bachelor of Arts Honours, Bachelor of Science Honours, Bachelor of Arts General, and Bachelor of Science General in Ecological Restoration, Environmental & Resource Science/Studies, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Geoscience; Geography; Indigenous Environmental Studies; International Development Studies; International Political Economy; Political Studies; Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems, and Water Sciences.   

Thursday, June 8, 2023 – 2 p.m. ceremony: 

Degrees will be conferred for Bachelor of Science in Forensic Biology, Bachelor of Science in Forensic Chemistry, Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science, Bachelor of Arts Honours, Bachelor of Science Honours, Bachelor of Arts General, Bachelor of Science General, joint degrees with Forensic Science, Anthropology, and Archaeology. 

Friday, June 9, 2023 – 10 a.m. ceremony: 

Degrees will be conferred for Bachelor of Arts & Science, Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, Bachelor of Arts Honours, Bachelor of Science Honours, Bachelor of Arts General
Bachelor of Science General in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Chemistry, Chemical Physics, Computer Science, Computer Science & Physics, Computing Systems, Economics, Financial Science, Information Systems, Mathematical Physics, Mathematical Economics, Mathematics, and Physics. 

Friday, June 9, 2023 – 2 p.m. ceremony: 

Degrees will be conferred for Bachelor of Science Honours and Bachelor of Science General
in Biology, Biomedical Science, and Conservation Biology. 

Monday, June 12, 2023 – 10 a.m. ceremony: 

Degrees will be conferred for Bachelor of Arts Honours, Bachelor of Science Honours, Bachelor of Arts General, and Bachelor of Science General in Psychology and Sociology. 

Monday, June 12, 2023 – 2 p.m. ceremony: 

Degrees will be conferred for Bachelor of Science in Nursing, including the bridging program with George Brown College. Dr. K. Jennifer 'Jenny' Ingram MD will receive an honorary doctorate of science.  

Tuesday, June 13, 2023 – 10 a.m. ceremony: 

Doctoral degrees will be conferred for Master of Art, Master of Bioenvironmental Monitoring & Assessment, Master of Education, Master of Science in Forensic Science, Master of Instrumental Chemical Analysis, and Master of Science. Graduate diplomas will also be presented.  

Visit trentu.ca/convocation for detailed information on the 2023 convocation ceremonies, bios of honorary degree recipients, further details for students and guests, and maps.