Doctor of Letters
(honoris causa) DLitt
David Phillips received the honorary degree, Doctor of Letters on Saturday, June 9, 2007 at the 2:00 p.m. ceremony and delivered the convocation address to the graduates of Nipissing’s Faculty of Arts and Science.
Canada’s foremost weather expert, Phillips has been employed with Environment Canada’s weather service for 39 years. As senior climatologist, he studies Canadian climates and promotes the importance and understanding of weather and climate in this country. He has published several books, papers and reports on the climate of Canada including several essays in The Canadian Encyclopedia. Phillips has been a national lecturer for the Association of Canadian Clubs, the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society and presents talks to local service groups, naturalist groups, universities and schools. He has twice received the Public Service Merit Award and has been awarded the Patterson Medal for Distinguished Service to Meteorology in Canada and the Camsell Award for Outstanding Service to the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Phillips was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2001. He is a Fellow of both the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographical Society and the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Phillips is the author of seven books including The Climates of Canada, and two national best-sellers: The Day Niagara Falls Ran Dry and Blame It on the Weather. Internationally, David Phillips has been involved for 25 years as an advisor on climate applications and services to the United Nations World Meteorological Organization.