Leaders, Builders, and Changemakers to Receive Honorary Degrees at Spring Convocation

The University of Regina will celebrate the extraordinary achievements of four individuals whose lives and careers have helped shape communities, institutions, and opportunities at home and around the world. During Spring Convocation 2026 from June 17 thorough June 19, the University will confer Honorary Doctor of Laws degrees upon Dr. Bob Steadward, the Honourable Ralph Goodale, and Sol and Elsie Sanderson.

Honorary degrees are the University’s highest distinction, recognizing individuals whose leadership, service, and accomplishments have made a profound and lasting impact.

“Our honorary degree recipients embody the very best of what we hope to inspire in our graduates,” says University of Regina President and Vice-Chancellor Jeff Keshen. “Through their leadership, vision, and commitment to improving the lives of others, Sol and Elsie Sanderson, the Honourable Ralph Goodale, and Dr. Bob Steadward have each left an indelible mark on Saskatchewan, Canada, and indeed the world. We are proud to recognize their remarkable contributions to the life of our communities.”

Champions of possibility

From advancing Indigenous self-determination, to shaping national policy to transforming international sport, this year’s honorary degree recipients have pursued very different paths. What unites them is a commitment to creating opportunities for others.

Sol and Elsie Sanderson

Sol and Elsie Sanderson have devoted their lives to advancing Indigenous governance, education, and community leadership. Sol Sanderson played a key role in securing constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and treaty rights and helped establish institutions including First Nations University of Canada and Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies. Elsie Sanderson has spent decades preserving traditional knowledge and supporting families and communities across Saskatchewan.

The Honourable Ralph Goodale

The Honourable Ralph Goodale has dedicated more than five decades to public service. A graduate of the former Regina Campus, he became Regina’s longest-serving member of parliament and held several senior federal cabinet portfolios, including finance and public safety. Following his political career, he represented Canada abroad as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, continuing a lifetime of service to Saskatchewan and Canada.

Dr. Bob Steadward

Born in Eston and educated at Luther College High School in Regina, Dr. Bob Steadward became one of the most influential figures in the global Paralympic movement. As founding president of the International Paralympic Committee, he helped transform opportunities for athletes with disabilities around the world. His lifelong commitment to inclusion, accessibility, and adapted physical activity has changed lives and inspired generations.

Leadership through service

Although their accomplishments span different fields, each recipient credits others for their success and views leadership as an opportunity to serve.

“I would encourage the graduating class to never lose sight of hope, opportunity, and the power of the human spirit,” says Dr. Steadward.

Goodale emphasizes gratitude and humility. “Approach your future with a potent combination of ambition and kindness,” he advises. “Aim high, never underestimate yourself and try your best to bring others along with you.”

For the Sandersons, leadership is inseparable from responsibility to future generations. “Make plans that the next generation can build on,” says Sol Sanderson, while Elsie Sanderson reminds graduates that learning does not end with a degree. “There is so much more to learn, both in class and in life.”

Inspiring the next generation

As graduates prepare to cross the stage this spring, the stories of these honorary degree recipients offer powerful examples of perseverance, compassion, and vision.

Whether championing inclusion in sport, serving Canadians through public life, or building institutions and preserving knowledge for generations to come, each recipient has demonstrated that lasting change begins with a commitment to others.

The University of Regina will confer Honorary Doctor of Laws degrees upon Sol and Elsie Sanderson during the morning ceremony on June 17, the Honourable Ralph Goodale during the afternoon ceremony on June 18, and Dr. Bob Steadward during the afternoon ceremony on June 19.

All ceremonies will be livestreamed on the University’s YouTube channel, and recordings of each ceremony will be posted on YouTube for graduates, family members, and friends who are unable to attend in person.