This Spring Convocation the University of Manitoba celebrates the achievements of over 4300 graduands and recognizes the distinguished achievements of four honorary degree recipients who have made our province and country better.

The honorary degree is the highest honour UM can bestow upon an individual for achieving pre-eminence in science, culture, scholarship, or public service. This year’s recipients have transformed health care, championed ideas of Indigenous nationhood, advocated for equality and inclusion and innovated the solar industry. They are Dr. Graham Sher, Marion Ironquil Meadmore, The Honorable Anita Neville, and Xiaohua (Shawn) Qu.

Dr. Graham Sher
May 16, 10 a.m. ceremony

Dr. Graham Sher is a health-care visionary. Under his innovative leadership, Canadian Blood Services has developed into an organization that is internationally respected for its safe, reliable management of blood, blood products and stem cell therapies, as well as organ donation and transplantation.

When the national, non-profit Canadian Blood Services was established in 1998 following the Krever Inquiry into Canada’s tainted blood scandal, Dr. Sher became its first vice-president of medical, scientific and clinical management. He was appointed to his current role as chief executive officer in 2001.

His first priority was rebuilding Canadians’ trust in the blood supply by implementing rigorous safety and testing systems. He then led the transformation of Canadian Blood Services into a state-of-the-art manufacturer of biologic products, including plasma and stem cells, with a core focus on safety, quality, innovation and productivity.