Bishop’s University to recognize Class of 2025 achievements during Convocation ceremonies

Honorands are Michael J. Sabia, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hydro-Québec and former President and CEO of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), and Dr. Joanne Liu, MD, C.M., FRCP, Canadian pediatric emergency medicine physician and former International President of Doctors Without Borders.

On Saturday, June 7, 2025, Chancellor Daniel Fournier will preside over the 198^th Bishop’s University Convocation ceremonies, in which degrees will be conferred to more than 650 graduands from the Class of 2025. 

“Convocation is the culmination of years of hard work, effort, and resolve,” notes Bishop’s University Chancellor Daniel Fournier. “Our students are deserving of recognition and celebration for completing this pivotal chapter. They are now ready to face the new challenges that await them, and we are confident that they are well prepared to do so.” 

Convocation also serves to recognize the exemplary contributions of notable individuals by conferring Doctorates of Civil Law to honorands. The honorands this year are Michael J. Sabia, President and CEO of Hydro-Québec, former President and CEO of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), former Deputy Minister of the Department of Finance Canada and former Director of the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto; and Dr. Joanne Liu, Canadian pediatric emergency medicine physician, Associate Professor of Medicine at Université de Montréal, Professor of Clinical Medicine at McGill University and former International President of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders). In addition, the contributions of community engagement award winners will be highlighted during the ceremony and awards for scholastic excellence will be granted. 

Convocation ceremonies will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. for graduands earning bachelor’s degrees from the Schools of Business and Education, master’s degrees, and certificates (Mr. Sabia will receive his honorary degree at this ceremony); and at 2:30 p.m. for graduands earning degrees in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences and Mathematics faculties (Dr. Liu will receive her honorary degree at this ceremony). 

Graduating students Alexandre Mador and Christina Lépine have been named valedictorians for Convocation 2025 and will deliver their addresses in the morning and afternoon ceremonies, respectively. 

Graduation Celebrations  

In the spirit of acceptance and celebration, special graduation celebrations will highlight graduating Indigenous students for the fourth consecutive year, and for the first time in Bishop’s history international and Black students will also be celebrated through the acknowledgement of unique achievements of underrepresented student groups. 

Indigenous Graduation Celebration 

This year marks the fourth Annual Indigenous Graduation Celebration at Bishop’s University. It is an opportunity for First Nation, Métis and Inuit graduates to be acknowledged and honoured by their peers, family and extended community members in an intimate ceremony that celebrates their successes and cultures. Moreover, the celebration will be hosted onsite for the first time at Kwigw8mna, the recently inaugurated space dedicated to Indigenous students.

Bishop’s International Graduation Celebration 

International students bring unique perspectives, languages, and lived experiences that enrich our campus. This first celebration recognizes the additional cultural, academic, and personal transitions these students have navigated, often far from home and in a different language. It offers a platform to celebrate their contributions, resilience, and academic success in a meaningful, inclusive way. Celebrating international graduates underscores the University’s commitment to preparing global citizens and leaders. It reflects a vision of education that crosses borders and fosters intercultural understanding. 

Black Graduation Celebration 

The Black Graduation Celebration is a culturally-affirming celebration that recognizes the unique experiences, resilience, and achievements of Black students. While it does not replace the official University Convocation, this celebration will provide an intentional space for Black students to be honoured in the context of their cultural identity, often reflecting on the additional social, academic, and institutional barriers they have experienced and had to navigate in their academic journey A key element of this celebration is the presentation of the Kente stole which is a handwoven cloth originating from Ghana that symbolizes African heritage, Black pride, and the highest level of academic accomplishment. 

The 2025 Honourands are:

Michael Sabia is the President and CEO of Hydro-Québec. He served as Deputy Minister of the Department of Finance Canada from 2020 to 2023. He is also the former Director of the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto.

From March 2009 to January 2020, Mr. Sabia served as President and CEO of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), where he oversaw the organization’s strategic direction and global growth.

Before joining CDPQ, Mr. Sabia held senior positions at BCE, including President and CEO. From 1993 to 1999, he was a senior executive with Canadian National Railway, where he became Chief Financial Officer. Earlier in his career, he worked for a decade as a senior official in the Government of Canada, serving as Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet and in leadership roles within the Department of Finance.

Mr. Sabia has been Chair of the Board of the Canada Infrastructure Bank and a member of the Government of Canada’s Advisory Council on Economic Growth. He currently serves on the Mastercard Foundation Board of Directors.

Mr. Sabia is an Officer of the Order of Canada. He holds a BA in Economics and Politics from the University of Toronto and an M.Phil. in Economics and Politics from Yale University.

Dr. Joanne Liu is a pediatric emergency physician at Université de Montréal and a professor at McGill University’s School of Population & Global Health, where she focuses on pandemics and health emergencies.

Dr. Liu graduated from McGill University’s School of Medicine in 1991 and holds a Fellowship in Pediatric Emergency Medicine from the New York University School of Medicine, as well as an International Master’s in Health Leadership from McGill University.

Before joining McGill, Dr. Liu worked extensively with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)/Doctors Without Borders (DWB), a globally recognized authority on medical humanitarian crises. In this role, she coordinated emergency medical aid during outbreaks and epidemics in regions including Central Africa, the Middle East, Central and Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, and Central America. She also served as International President of MSF from 2013 to 2019.

Dr. Liu’s operational work has ranged from implementing comprehensive care for survivors of sexual violence to developing a telemedicine platform that connects doctors in rural conflict zones with specialists worldwide.

The recipient of numerous awards throughout her career, Dr. Liu currently serves on the World Health Organization Independent Panel on Pandemic Preparedness and Response. She also chairs the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, a peace mediation organization, and sits on the international advisory boards of two Lancet Commissions: the PRIME Commission on pandemic readiness and the CHH–Lancet Commission on conflict and forced displacement.

About Bishop’s University 

Founded in 1843 and located on the traditional territory of the Abenaki people (W8banakiak wdakiw8k), Bishop’s University is a unique English-language, primarily undergraduate institution located in the historic and picturesque Eastern Townships region of Québec. Our 220-hectare campus offers an immersive educational experience within a close-knit community.

With a student population of approximately 2,600 full-time students, Bishop’s fosters deep academic engagement through personalized course of study, small class sizes and meaningful interaction between students and professors. We offer over 100 programs across five faculties: Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Business, and Education.

For more than 180 years, Bishop’s has cultivated leaders and changemakers through interdisciplinary learning, experiential opportunities, and extensive student support. Whether studying abroad, conducting research, participating in an athletic team, or learning by doing, Bishop’s students are empowered to pursue academic excellence and personal growth in an inclusive and dynamic environment.

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Media Inquiries:
Sonia Patenaude
Communications Manager – Bishop’s University
819-342-2587 | sonia.patenaude@ubishops.ca