Cape Breton University to Confer Honorary Degrees on two Cape Bretoners, Dr. David Kennedy and Mr. Donnie Campbell

On Wednesday, November 5, during the Fall Convocation ceremony, Cape Breton University will confer Doctor of Laws, honoris causa on Dr. David Kennedy and Doctor of Letters, honoris causa, on Mr. Donnie Campbell.

“In choosing to confer an honorary degree, Cape Breton University shines a light on those individuals and organizations that live out, in an exemplary fashion, CBU’s values of courage, cooperation and quality,” says President & Vice-Chancellor David C. Dingwall. “We are proud to recognize Dr. David Kennedy and Mr. Donnie Campbell, two remarkable Cape Bretoners whose lifelong contributions reflect the very heart of our Island and University. Their work reminds us that leadership takes many forms. Whether through the preservation of music and culture or the advancement of our local economy. We are honoured to celebrate them as part of the CBU family.”

Dr. David Kennedy is a lifelong Cape Bretoner whose entrepreneurial drive has transformed a small family clinic into a thriving, multi-location veterinary practice, creating jobs, mentoring young professionals, and helping to build the Island’s economy. His ability to combine innovation, leadership, and compassion exemplifies the spirit of Cape Breton enterprise. For nearly four decades, Dr. Kennedy served the people and their beloved pets of Cape Breton with unwavering commitment . Following in the footsteps of his father, who founded Kennedy Animal Hospital in 1951, Dr. Kennedy modernized veterinary medicine on the Island and built a legacy rooted in community care.

Donnie Campbell is a beloved figure in Cape Breton’s celtic musical landscape, best known as the host of Celtic Serenade, a radio program that has been delighting audiences for over 50 years. With the longest-running radio show in North America, Donnie shares a blend of celtic, folk, bluegrass, and East Coast music every Sunday, reaching listeners across Cape Breton and around the globe. His contribution and work on promoting celtic music have earned him multiple awards, including the Unsung Hero Award from the Canadian Folk Music Awards (2020), the Stompin’ Tom Music Award from the ECMA (2019), and recognition from the Cape Breton Musicians Association for his lifelong commitment to promoting local talent. In the spring of 2025, Donnie was inducted into the Cape Breton Music Hall of Fame.

“We are thrilled to welcome these outstanding Cape Bretoners into our CBU Alumni Family,” says CBU President Dingwall. “CBU has been conferring honorary degrees for more than 20 years, and it is among the highest honour we can give to recognize and celebrate those who have an impact on the communities around them.”

Fall Convocation 2025 will take place on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, 11am,  at the Kehoe Forum, Cape Breton University.