UVic to award five honorary degrees in Spring 2013
Five individuals with exceptional records of distinction in public service, research and teaching will accept honorary degrees from the University of Victoria at spring convocation ceremonies, June 10–14 in the University Centre Farquhar Auditorium.
The university has conferred honorary degrees each year since 1964 based on nominations submitted to the UVic Senate from members of the university community. Past recipients include Prince Philip, Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin and Coast Salish artist Susan Point.
This spring’s honorands are:
Mr. Nazmudin (Naz) G. Rayani, Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD)
Presented at 2:30 p.m., Monday, June 10
Naz Rayani is a Victoria pharmacist and community leader whose infectious generosity of spirit, rooted in the Ismaili Muslim faith, has created a legacy of service, cross-cultural understanding and tolerance.
From 1995 to 2010, he was convenor and co-convenor of the annual World Partnership Walk in Victoria, an initiative of the Aga Khan Foundation of Canada. The walk takes place in 10 cities and is Canada’s largest annual event for increasing awareness and raising funds to fight global poverty. Rayani personally raises substantial donations for each year’s walk while inspiring his children, grandchildren and friends to share in the effort.
A former member of the advisory council of the UVic Centre for Studies in Religion and Society, Rayani founded the centre’s Muslim Library Resources Fund, which annually acquires new resources on Islamic studies for the UVic Library. He has also been a key figure in fundraising for the centre’s endowed Distinguished Lecture Series in Islam.
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