President DeGagné earns Indspire Award
Congratulations to Nipissing University President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Mike DeGagné, on earning an Indspire Award for Public Service.
The 2018 Indspire Awards were announced November 7, 2017. A ceremony will be held to celebrate the award winners on March 23, 2018, in Winnipeg, MB.
DeGagné is one of 13 outstanding First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals selected for the prestigious award.
"The 2018 Indspire Awards are the highest honour bestowed on Indigenous people, marking the significant contributions of our people in Canada. We not only recognize the recipients’ individual successes, their discipline, drive and determination to set high standards and accomplish their goals, but also to share and celebrate, the impact of their stories and journeys with all Canadians,” said Roberta L. Jamieson, President and CEO of Indspire and Executive Producer of the Indspire Awards.
“I am honoured to accept this award from Indspire, and to be recognized alongside these remarkable individuals,” said DeGagné. “The Indspire Awards perform a vital role in recognizing contributions to the Indigenous community and to Canada, and I’m grateful to be able to participate in that important mission.”
The sixth President and Vice-Chancellor of Nipissing University, DeGagné previously served as the founding Executive Director of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, a national organization that addressed the legacy of Indian Residential Schools. He has served on numerous Boards of Directors in the health and university sectors including as Chairman of Ottawa's Queensway Carleton Hospital, and Chairman of the Child Welfare League of Canada. He has a PhD in Education focusing on Aboriginal post-secondary success from Michigan State University, and Masters degrees in Administration and Law. He lectures nationally and internationally in the areas of Indigenous governance and reconciliation. He is a recipient of the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario as well as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Indspire is an Indigenous-led national charity that invests in the education of Indigenous people for the long-term benefit of these individuals, their families and communities, and Canada. With the support of its funding partners, Indspire invests in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students so they will achieve their highest potential. In 2016-2017, Indspire awarded $11.6 million through 3,764 bursaries and scholarships to First Nations, Inuit and Métis students across Canada. For more information about the 2018 Indspire Awards, visitindspire.ca.