![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
One of the best speakers I've ever heard
Jun. 22nd, 2007 10:40 amYesterday, among other things, I attended Dawson's convocation. I was there because my brother was getting his degree, and I was happy to cheer him on from the peanut gallery. The keynote speaker for the event was Stephen J. Toope, former dean of McGill and now president and vice-chancellor of the University of British Columbia. I say without any hesitation that his speech was one of the best I've ever heard.
The Gazette ran an excerpted, edited copy of the address in today's paper. It can be read here.
He spoke, among other things, of the courage shown by Dawson staff, faculty, and students, in some cases just by continuing their lives and refusing to give in to fear after the Sept. 13th attacks. He drew parallels with his own life: his parents had been brutally but senselessly murdered when he was in his 30s. He thanked everyone at Dawson for being an inspiration to the world. He was, in short, wonderful.
I wrote a letter to Dr. Toope thanking him and asking whether he had a full version of the speech that I could share. (I realized belatedly that I addressed it to "Mr. Toope" instead of "Dr. Toope", but hopefully he'll forgive me.) If I get any response, you'll be the first to know. If anyone finds a video version of the speech on YouTube, please watch it. Then post it. It's really worth your time.
The Gazette ran an excerpted, edited copy of the address in today's paper. It can be read here.
He spoke, among other things, of the courage shown by Dawson staff, faculty, and students, in some cases just by continuing their lives and refusing to give in to fear after the Sept. 13th attacks. He drew parallels with his own life: his parents had been brutally but senselessly murdered when he was in his 30s. He thanked everyone at Dawson for being an inspiration to the world. He was, in short, wonderful.
I wrote a letter to Dr. Toope thanking him and asking whether he had a full version of the speech that I could share. (I realized belatedly that I addressed it to "Mr. Toope" instead of "Dr. Toope", but hopefully he'll forgive me.) If I get any response, you'll be the first to know. If anyone finds a video version of the speech on YouTube, please watch it. Then post it. It's really worth your time.
