Shaw Festival Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell to Receive Honorary LL.D.

The Shaw Festival's Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell will receive an honorary doctor of laws degree from Queen's University for her landmark achievements in Canadian theatre, theatre arts and her promotion of new visions of Canada on the world stage. The degree will be conferred during the fall convocation ceremonies on November 20 at 10 a.m. in Grant Hall (43 University Avenue), one of the oldest buildings on the Queen's University campus. In addition to leading several on-campus workshops, Ms. Maxwell will also give the convocation address after receiving her honorary degree.

On hearing that she was to receive the award, Ms. Maxwell said, "I am extremely honoured. It is wonderful to be acknowledged for something I feel so passionately about - the creation, sharing, celebrating and exploring of theatre that not only entertains, but challenges and even changes the hearts and minds of audiences everywhere."

Ms. Maxwell will be in good company. Honorary degrees will also be bestowed on Garretson Trudeau, author of the Doonesbury comic strip, and former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Mrs. Rosalynn Carter that week.

Honorary degrees have been given out by Queen's University since 1858. Early recipients were mostly male clergymen; however, this disparity was rectified by degree recipients from other disciplines (politics, law, British royalty, industrialists, etc.) in the late 1800s. Those involved in the arts began to be recognized in the early 1900s.