Uri Mayer and Cecil Rorabeck to receive honorary degrees from Western Uri Mayer, one of Canada’s best Conductors

London - Uri Mayer, one of Canada’s most respected conductors, and Cecil Rorabeck, one of the world’s leading experts on hip and knee replacement surgery, will receive honorary degrees when The University of Western Ontario hosts its 294th Convocation in October.

A third graduation ceremony features the installation of Western’s new President Amit Chakma. Chakma is the 10th President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Western Ontario, succeeding Paul Davenport on July 1, 2009.

The ceremonies are scheduled for the following days:

Uri Mayer
Thursday, October 22, 3:30 p.m.
Doctor of Music, honoris causa (D.Mus.)
Mayer is one of Canada’s most respected conductors, having served in a leadership role with three major Canadian orchestras. While Principal Conductor of Orchestra London, his musical vision enhanced the reputation of the Orchestra within the city and across the country. A resident of Toronto, he appeared regularly from 1996 to 2003 as guest conductor for the National Ballet of Canada and led many productions including Tales of Arabian Nights, Swan Lake and Nutcracker.

Cecil Rorabeck
Friday, October 23, 10 a.m.
Doctor of Science, honoris causa (D.Sc.)
Dr. Rorabeck is one of the world’s leading experts on hip and knee replacement surgery. He is a Professor Emeritus and former Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery at Western and London Health Sciences Centre and has served as president of the Canadian Orthopaedic Research Society, the Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation and the Canadian Orthopaedic Association. He currently serves as Council Chair for the Robarts Research Institute.

Amit Chakma
Friday, October 23, 3:30 p.m.
Installation as Western’s New President
Chakma is the 10th President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Western Ontario. He arrived at Western after serving the University of Waterloo since 2001 as Vice-President, Academic & Provost, and as a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering. Prior to that, he served as Dean of Engineering and then Vice-President (Research) and International Liaison Officer at the University of Regina. He began his academic career as a professor of chemical and petroleum engineering at the University of Calgary.