Honorary degree recipients share experience and wisdom with MRU graduates

Mount Royal University is pleased to announce its honorary doctorate recipients for Convocation 2026.

Honorary degrees date back to the Middle Ages and are often accompanied by the Latin words “honoris causa” meaning “for honorific reasons.” They are the highest honour Mount Royal University is able to bestow and an important part of convocation.

“MRU’s Honorary Doctors of Laws are leaders and builders in their communities,” says MRU president and vice-chancellor Tim Rahilly, PhD. “The recipients have achieved a level of excellence in their fields, and it is our honour to recognize their outstanding service and contributions towards the betterment of society. We thank them for the experiences and advice they share with our graduates.”

Here are this year’s Honorary Doctors of Laws, in the order of when they will receive their degrees. Recipients will address graduating students with their lived experience and words of encouragement.

Mike Shaikh

Wednesday, June 10 at 10 a.m.
Faculty of Science and Technology
Faculty of Arts

Mike Shaikh is a visionary business leader whose career is defined by a profound commitment to community building. A member of the Order of Canada, he has dedicated his life to advancing social justice and public safety, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of volunteerism. He is dedicated to creating a safer and more equitable society for all.

Educated as a chartered accountant, he has used his expertise to help many organizations. He has championed excellence in healthcare through his strategic oversight as a director for the Alberta Children’s Hospital. Through his long-standing directorships with Provident Energy Ltd., Amica Lifestyle, Artis REIT and many more, he has advanced corporate financial integrity.

His professional journey is a testament to high-impact service across diverse sectors. From providing governance as the past chair of the Calgary Police Commission, director of Alberta Securities Commission, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority and his roles as director and treasurer for the Canadian Paralympic Foundation, Shaikh consistently elevates the organizations he serves. Shaikh continues to embody the spirit of service and leadership.

David Weyant

Wednesday, June 10 at 2 p.m.
Faculty of Arts

David Weyant is an ethical leader, certified director, respected lawyer and solution-focused professional. He is currently president and CEO of Alberta Lawyers Indemnity Association, a non-profit corporation that provides protection to its members and compensation to the public.

Weyant’s background includes litigating for top-tier law firms, practicing corporate/commercial law, and leading a team of risk-management professionals as senior vice-president and general counsel for Alberta Health Services.

With extensive governance experience, Weyant has served as a director for publicly listed, private and not-for-profit entities including as chair of the Board of Governors for Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, and as board chair of Alberta Health Services. He currently serves on the board of directors of Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company.

A lifelong learner, Weyant has earned a B.A., a J.D., and two MBA degrees from Queen’s University and Cornell University. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2004 (now King’s Counsel). In 2022, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in recognition of his significant contributions to the province.

Debra Tomlinson

Thursday, June 11 at 10 a.m.
Faculty of Business, Communication Studies and Aviation

 

Debra Tomlinson is a transformative leader whose 30-year career helped shape sexual violence prevention and response in Alberta, advancing a once-aspirational vision into a provincial reality. Her leadership was instrumental in securing the first public funding for sexual assault centres in Alberta, developing the province’s inaugural Sexual Violence Action Plan, spearheading Alberta’s One Line for Sexual Violence, and leading the award-winning #IBelieveYou public awareness campaign.

In her role as chief executive officer of the Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services (AASAS), Tomlinson was a trusted advisor to governments, justice and health partners, and community organizations. Known for her authenticity, insight and ability to unite diverse stakeholders, she guided the creation of multidisciplinary collaborations, led groundbreaking social policy initiatives, and extended her impact beyond provincial borders as co-founder and co-chair of the Ending Sexual Violence Association of Canada.

Her contributions have been recognized through numerous awards, and in honour of her legacy, AASAS established an award for Excellence in Collaboration in her name. A dedicated mentor and educator, She continues to foster the development of future social workers through her work with Mount Royal University and the University of Calgary.

Mary A. Tidlund

Thursday, June 11 at 2 p.m.
Faculty of Business, Communication Studies and Aviation

Mary A. Tidlund is a Canadian businesswoman, philanthropist and author with extensive international experience. She co-founded and served as CEO of Williston Wildcatters Oil Corporation, a public oil and gas exploration and service company that helped pioneer horizontal drilling. In 1998, she transitioned from the energy sector to philanthropy, establishing The Mary A. Tidlund Charitable Foundation, which from 1998 to 2018 delivered 90 programs across 29 countries, focused on improving health and education, empowering women and children and reducing poverty.

Through this work, Tidlund developed a global perspective on relationship-based, strategic leadership and is recognized for motivating diverse teams and fostering collaboration among stakeholders and community partners. She has served as a director or advisor with organizations including Women Moving Millions, Tostan International, Grace Institute NYC, and the O’Brien Institute for Public Health, and currently holds board roles with Valhi Inc., CompX International Inc., Plus1, the Grace Institute Foundation, and the Donner Canadian Foundation.

Tidlund holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Calgary and is a Member of the Order of Canada. She has received multiple honours and is the author of Memoirs of a Wildcat.

Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser

Friday, June 12 at 10 a.m.
Faculty of Health, Community and Education
Faculty of Continuing Education and Extension

A passionate communicator with an international career, Bartholomew-Poyser brings clarity and meaning to the concert hall, fostering deep connections between audiences and performers. He is concurrently the principal youth conductor and creative partner of the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the principal education conductor and community ambassador of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, artistic partner and community ambassador of Symphony Nova Scotia, resident conductor of Engagement and Education of the San Francisco Symphony, chef Principale Invité of Montréal’s ensemble Obiora, and music director of Canada’s National Youth Orchestra.

Bartholomew-Poyser has guest-conducted with prestigious symphony orchestras the world over, ranging from the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Concert Orchestra — and all the way back to the Calgary Philharmonic. In addition to his conducting career, Bartholomew-Poyser is the host of the Canadian Broadcasting Company’s “Centrestage”, a nationally broadcast weekly radio show all about chamber and orchestral music.

Bartholomew-Poyser earned his bachelor's in music performance and education from the University of Calgary, studied privately at Mount Royal University, and earned his Master of Philosophy in Performance from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England.

Alice Kaquitts

Friday, June 12, at 2 p.m.
Faculty of Health, Community and Education

Elder Alice Kaquitts (Yumotata Mani) is a profoundly respected Îethka Stoney Nakoda Woman pipe holder, traditional ceremonialist, and language champion from the Goodstoney First Nation. A survivor of the residential school system, she reclaimed her identity to become one of the few members of her nation capable of both reading and writing the Îethka language. With an academic foundation in social work from the University of Calgary and Mount Royal University, she has spent more than 20 years in senior leadership, bridging the gap between traditional Indigenous wisdom and modern institutional frameworks.

Kaquitts serves as a high-level cultural authority for numerous provincial and national organizations, including the Traditional Thinkers Advisory at Mount Royal University.

A dedicated preservationist, Kaquitts co-hosts the radio program “Conversational Nakoda” on CJWE 88.1 FM and collaborates with the Stoney Education Authority on vital resources. She has a significant legacy in reconciliation, having served as a crucial interpreter and translator for the Indian Residential School Independent Assessment Process. She is the founder of Okiyabi Consulting and director and co-founder of Nakoda Solutions, a consulting group focused on traditional knowledge.