St. Mark’s College at UBC to Confer Honorary Doctorate to Dr. Angus Reid

Jul 9, 2021

St. Mark’s College at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is pleased to announce Dr. Angus Reid – a prominent and extraordinary Catholic entrepreneur and strong supporter of Catholic education – as a recipient of the institution’s highest honour, the degree Doctor of Sacred Letters, honoris causa.

The degree will be conferred by the Most Reverend J. Michael Miller, CSB, Archbishop of Vancouver and Chancellor of St. Mark’s College, at the College’s 2021 Convocation on September 11, 2021.

Dr. Reid is one of the most respected and influential public figures in Canada. He was founder and CEO of Angus Reid Group, which grew into the largest research firm in Canada, as well as the founder of Angus Reid Institute and Angus Reid Global. He joined research software start-up, Vision Critical, as CEO and helped the company grow to 600 employees worldwide with revenues of over $100 million by the time he retired as Executive Chair in 2014.

Dr. Reid is a member of the Marketing Hall of Legends in recognition of his achievements in business, and he is the recipient of a Canada Council Doctoral Fellowship and the Entrepreneur of the Year award. He has a B.A. and an M.A. in Sociology from the University of Manitoba and a Ph.D. in Sociology from Carleton University in Ottawa.

Beyond his professional success, Dr. Reid is widely known for his philanthropic endeavours. He chaired the CKNW Orphans’ Fund, has established a journalism fellowship and donated to hospitals and schools, and helped found the Monarca Foundation, which provides humanitarian aid in Mexico. Dr. Reid also works closely with the Rick Hansen Foundation.

“Dr. Reid’s record as a creative entrepreneur, visionary, and key opinion-shaper is well established.  In addition, his critical fidelity to his church, love of the academy, and philanthropic initiatives all combine to make him a provincial, if not national, treasure,” said Dr. Michael W. Higgins, President and Vice Chancellor, St. Mark’s College at UBC.

A parishioner at Christ the Redeemer Parish in West Vancouver, Dr. Reid is a generous and committed supporter of the Catholic community here in British Columbia. He previously sat on the Board of Corpus Christi College and St. Mark’s College and was a lead donor for the rebuilding of St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Secondary School. He was honoured by the Holy Father in 2013 with the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice for his services to the Church.


Dr. Reid will be joined by Dr. Paul Burns, the 2020 Honorary Doctorate recipient, in being conferred the honour at this year’s convocation ceremony, as the 2020 Convocation was postponed due to COVID-19.

 

ABOUT ST. MARK’S COLLEGE AT UBC

St. Mark’s College is a member of the Community of St. Mark’s at UBC, which comprises St. Mark’s College, Corpus Christi College, and St. Mark’s Parish. As the affiliated Catholic Theological College of the University of British Columbia (UBC), St. Mark’s College offers a variety of academic programs and continuing education opportunities for Catholics and non-Catholics. Together with Corpus Christi College, St. Mark’s College is a centre of excellence for undergraduate and graduate Catholic education in British Columbia.

St. Mark’s is committed to promoting authentic Christian humanism, marked by the pursuit of academic excellence and animated by the joy of searching for, discovering, and communicating truth in every field of knowledge. The College prepares graduates who continually strive to integrate and synthesize faith and reason so that they will serve society charged with a commitment to think rigorously, to act justly and to serve faithfully.

The College offers programs that are grounded in the Catholic intellectual and moral tradition, including a Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Culture and Master’s degrees in Religious Education, Theological Studies, Pastoral Studies and Catholic Leadership.

 

CONTACT

Christina Dumont, Communications, St. Mark’s College at UBC

[email protected]