Spring Convocation 2026 Order of Proceedings

All ceremonies will take place at the Kehoe Forum on campus

Ceremony One: 

Wednesday, May 27, 2026, 10:00am  

Academic and Graduate Procession 
The audience is requested to stand when the procession enters and to remain standing during the Mi’kmaq Welcome and O Canada. At the conclusion of the ceremony, guests are asked to remain seated until the procession has exited the Kehoe Forum.

Order of Proceedings

Distinguished Guests 

His Honour the Honourable Mike Savage, ONS, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia 

Chancellor Designate: Jack Graham 

President & Vice-Chancellor: David C. Dingwall  

Chair of the Board of Governors: Denise Allen 

Vice President, Academic: Dr. Rod Nicholls  

Master of Ceremonies: University Registrar, Bilynda Whiting 

Mace Bearer/Valedictorian: Madison Power, Bachelor of Science 

Mi’kmaq Welcome: Recorded message presented by Laurianne Sylvester, Dean, Unama’ki College 

O Canada: Performed by Margaret MacPherson, CBU Alumna 

Installation of the Chancellor  

Citation for the Chancellor Designate: David C. Dingwall, President & ViceChancellor 

Administration of the Oath of Office: Denise Allen, Chair, Board of Governors 

Declaration of Installation 

Robing of the Chancellor: Vice President, Academic: Dr. Rod Nicholls and Bilynda Whiting, University Registrar 

Presentation of the Mace 

Installation Address: Jack Graham, Chancellor of Cape Breton University 

President’s Convocation Address: David C. Dingwall, President & Vice-Chancellor 

Valedictory Address:  Madison Power, Bachelor of Science 

Conferral of Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates: Jack Graham, Chancellor 

School of Education and Health: Dean Dr. Ellyn Lyle 

Orators: Dr. Lynn Levatte and Melissa MacDonald  

School of Nursing: Dean Dr. Karen Kennedy  

Orator: Dr. Audrey Walsh  

School of Science and Technology: Associate Dean Dr. Vielka Salazar  

Orator: Bill Robinson  

Ceremony Closing 

Rise Again: Performed by Margaret MacPherson, CBU Alumna 

Ceremony Two

Wednesday, May 27, 2026, 2:00pm

Academic and Graduate Procession 

The audience is requested to stand when the procession enters and to remain standing during the Mi’kmaq Welcome and O Canada. At the conclusion of the ceremony, guests are asked to remain seated until the procession has exited the Kehoe Forum.

Order of Proceedings

Chancellor: Jack Graham 

President & Vice-Chancellor: David C. Dingwall 

Vice President, Academic: Dr. Rod Nicholls 

Master of Ceremonies: University Registrar, Bilynda Whiting 

Mace Bearer/Valedictorian: Millicent Amaka Mmekwe, Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Health Care Management 

Mi’kmaq Welcome: Recorded message presented by Laurianne Sylvester, Dean, Unama’ki College 

O Canada: Recorded by Breagh Kelly 

President’s Address: David C. Dingwall, President & Vice-Chancellor 

Valedictory Address:  Millicent Amaka Mmekwe, Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Health Care Management 

Conferral of Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates: Jack Graham, Chancellor 

Shannon School of Business: Dean Dr. John Nadeau 

Orators:  Dr. Efren Munoz-Miranda and Dr. Tasquia Mizan 

Ceremony Closing

Rise Again: Recorded by the Men of the Deeps

Ceremony Three

Thursday, May 28, 2026, 10:00am  

Academic and Graduate Procession 

The audience is requested to stand when the procession enters and to remain standing during the Mi’kmaq Welcome and O Canada. At the conclusion of the ceremony, guests are asked to remain seated until the procession has exited the Kehoe Forum.

Order of Proceedings 

Chancellor: Jack Graham 

President & Vice-Chancellor: David C. Dingwall 

Vice President, Academic: Dr. Rod Nicholls 

Master of Ceremonies: University Registrar, Bilynda Whiting 

Mace Bearer/Valedictorian: Sarah M. Doody, Bachelor of Business Administration 

Mi’kmaq Welcome: Recorded message presented by Laurianne Sylvester, Dean, Unama’ki College 

O Canada: Recorded by Breagh Kelly 

President’s Address: David C. Dingwall, President & Vice-Chancellor 

Presentation of Honorary Doctorate Degree  

Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) 

Honorary Doctorate Degree Recipient: Father Norman James MacPhee 

Citation Presenter: Sara Salter Burke, Vice President, Development

Address by the Honorary Doctorate Degree Recipient: Dr. Norman James MacPhee 

Valedictory Address:  Sarah M. Doody, Bachelor of Business Administration 

Conferral of Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates: Jack Graham, Chancellor 

School of Arts and Social Sciences: Dean Dr. Chris MacDonald 

Orator: Michael MacDonald  

Shannon School of Business: Dean Dr. John Nadeau 

Orators:  Dr. Maya Giorbelidze and Jennifer Currie 

Ceremony Closing

Rise Again: Recorded by the Men of the Deeps

Ceremony 4

Thursday, May 28, 2026, 2:00pm

Academic and Graduate Procession 

The audience is requested to stand when the procession enters and to remain standing during the Mi’kmaq Welcome and O Canada. At the conclusion of the ceremony, guests are asked to remain seated until the procession has exited the Kehoe Forum.

Order of Proceedings

Chancellor: Jack Graham 

President & Vice-Chancellor: David C. Dingwall 

Vice President, Academic: Dr. Rod Nicholls 

Master of Ceremonies: University Registrar, Bilynda Whiting 

Mace Bearer/Valedictorian: Lida James, Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Business Management 

Mi’kmaq Welcome: Recorded message presented by Laurianne Sylvester, Dean, Unama’ki College 

O Canada: Recorded by Breagh Kelly 

President’s Address: David C. Dingwall, President & Vice-Chancellor 

Valedictory Address:  Lida James, Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Business Management 

Conferral of Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates Jack Graham, Chancellor 

Shannon School of Business: Dean Dr. John Nadeau 

Orator: Dr. Samiul Islam 

Ceremony Closing

Rise Again: Recorded by the Men of the Deeps