Spring 2007 Convocation

Photo By Bernard Clark.

New Graduates Cameron Clark, Shannon Hindmarch and Sean Chambers.

Family, friends, faculty and staff gathered in Grant Hall to watch the Class of 2007 receive their law degrees at a historic event on June 8, 2007. For the first time, Queen's Law hosted a separate convocation for LL.B. and LL.M. students.

"I'm so glad we were able to have our convocation at Grant Hall," said Erin Dann, Law ‘07. "One of the things I liked best about law school at Queen's was the sense of community that developed in our year. It was wonderful to graduate with just our class... to know every person who walked across the stage."

Honorary degree recipient George Thomson, Arts '62 and Law '65, addressed the graduating class, encouraging members to be open to possibilities, welcome new perspectives and challenge assumptions. Principal Karen Hitchcock described Thomson as a "judicial pioneer" who had won awards for humanitarianism, made extraordinary contributions to jurisprudence and in reform initiatives in legal education. In his exemplary career, Thomson has served as a Provincial Court judge in Kingston, and in several senior positions in both the provincial and federal governments. Thomson is now the Senior Director-International of the National Judicial Institute and Chair of the Ontario Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform.

"Grant Hall was a beautiful venue for the ceremony and the honorary graduate's speech was particularly affecting," said Cameron Clark, Law ‘07. "My favourite thing about convocation was simply the closure that it provided - seeing my classmates in their gowns, discussing the next stage in their lives, and already speaking nostalgically about Kingston."

Medals in Law were presented to Erin Dann (Medal in Law), Andrew Lord (Medal in Law - Second Highest Standing), and Bruce Blain (Medal in Law - Third Highest Standing) for obtaining the highest cumulative averages in their graduating class.

Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed a reception at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre. Dean Bill Flanagan presented the Dean's Scholar Awards to the three graduating students with the highest third year averages and the new Dean's Key awards. Recipients of the Dean's Scholar Awards were Andrew Lord (Dean's Gold Scholar), Claire Houston (Dean's Silver Scholar), and Bruce Blain (Dean's Bronze Scholar). Erin Dann and Jill Daley became the inaugural recipients of the Dean's Key. The Dean's Key is awarded to graduating students who best embody the proud traditions and signature values of Queen's Law -- community, collegiality, professionalism, service, and academic excellence.

"I'll take away from Queen's really wonderful memories of the people I've met - the professors who taught and mentored me, and the students who I learned beside," said Erin.

 

For more convocation pictures, see http://law.queensu.ca/students/llbProgram/convocation.html.

For a complete list of award recipients in the graduating class, see http://law.queensu.ca/students/llbProgram/awards/awardRecipients0607.html.