Indigenous St. Lawrence College, through its Board of Governors, may recognize the outstanding achievements of individuals or organizations by awarding Honorary Diplomas to those whose accomplishments are of such excellence, inspiration, and leadership, that they serve as an example and inspiration for the students and graduates of our college. To that end, consideration is not limited to a community or regional nominees but may also include those individuals who represent provincial, national, or international achievement.
Honorary Diploma recipients are considered and selected based on academic or social achievement, intellectual or social integrity and belonging, and to celebrate significant professional, community, and personal achievements and contributions to the college.
Members of the St. Lawrence College community who would like to share suggestions as to who they believe would make excellent Honorary Diploma recipients may contact Kristen Bullock, Executive Assistant to the President & CEO and Board of Governors at kbullock@sl.on.ca where suggestions will be shared for consideration
Honorary Diploma Criteria
- Overall accomplishments: What is the significance of the nominee’s contributions?
- Resonance with SLC mission, vision & values: Is the nominee’s accomplishments in support of, and in alignment with the mission, vision, and values of the college?
- Resonance and relevance to graduates and guests: Will the nominee’s presence, message, or representation resonate with the graduates and audience?
- Community Engagement: Has the nominee positively impacted their local and broader community?
- Belonging: We believe honesty, inclusivity, and accountability as the pathways to success. As our communities continue to evolve, we look to create a sense of belonging for our students, teams, and partners and have pledged to celebrate diversity, respect our differences, value contributions, and foster an environment where everyone feels they can participate without discrimination.
Does this nominee demonstrate alignment with the college’s value of belonging?
2026 Honorary Diploma Recipients
chief abram benedict
Ontario Regional Chief, Chiefs of Ontario
What does this award mean to you personally?
Accepting this award is a profound honour. St. Lawrence College has long been a trusted partner to my community of Akwesasne, and receiving this recognition from an institution beyond my own community carries deep meaning. To me, this honour represents a bridge — a reflection of the shared journey in education, partnership, and mutual respect that has grown between Akwesasne and the College over many years.
How have your interactions with St. Lawrence College influenced your path and the work that led to this award?
My relationship with St. Lawrence College has shaped me in many ways. As the former Grand Chief of Akwesasne and as a past member of the College’s Board, I had the privilege of working closely with SLC. Those experiences informed my leadership, broadened my understanding of community‑driven education, and strengthened my commitment to improving opportunities not only for Akwesasne, but for the entire Cornwall–Akwesasne region. Our collaboration has always been rooted in the belief that when we lift one community, we lift all communities.
What wisdom would you share with SLC graduates based on your own experiences in your education and career?
To the graduates: be kind. The world can be tough, but kindness will carry you farther than you expect. Embrace lifelong learning — it will keep you grounded, curious, and adaptable. Build genuine partnerships, because nothing meaningful is ever achieved alone. And above all, stay true to your values and keep moving forward. Don’t ever stop.
ROBYNE HANLEY-DAFOE
EDUCATIONAL BEHAVIOURIST AND AUTHOR
What does this award mean to you personally?
Receiving this honour from St. Lawrence College is deeply personal to me because SLC believed in me before there was much evidence to suggest they should. I did not arrive with a polished academic story or a perfect transcript. In many ways, I arrived with potential, determination, and a hope that someone might give me a chance. St. Lawrence College did exactly that.
That trust changed the trajectory of my life. What began as one opportunity became the foundation for a lifelong journey of learning that eventually led me through four more degrees, a career in education, and work that now allows me to support people across Canada and beyond.
This award feels full circle. It is a reminder that one act of belief in another human being can ripple farther than we may ever imagine. To be recognized by the institution that first opened the door for me is both humbling and profoundly meaningful.
How have your interactions with St. Lawrence College influenced your path and the work that led to this award?
My experience at St. Lawrence College shaped far more than my education. It shaped how I understand people, leadership, and possibility.
SLC taught me that education is not simply about grades or credentials. At its best, education is about helping people see what is possible in themselves before they can fully see it on their own. I experienced faculty and staff who understood that education is not just about where a student starts, but about helping them get from where they are to where they are capable of going. That mattered to me deeply.
As someone whose work now focuses on stress, resiliency, hope, and human development, I often think back to how transformative it can be when people feel seen, supported, and trusted during uncertain seasons of life. SLC modeled that for me early on. It reinforced my belief that potential is not always obvious on paper and that compassion and accountability can coexist beautifully.
Much of the work I do today is rooted in helping people understand that they are more than their hardest season, their worst moment, or the story they currently believe about themselves. In many ways, St. Lawrence College helped me live that truth long before I had the language to teach it.
What wisdom would you share with SLC graduates based on your own experiences in your education and career?
I would tell graduates that life rarely unfolds in a straight line, and that is not failure, it is being human.
Some of the most meaningful opportunities in my life came from seasons that felt uncertain, disappointing, or incomplete at the time. Your path may change many times. You may outgrow dreams, redefine success, begin again, or take longer than expected to find your footing. None of that disqualifies you from building a meaningful life.
I would also remind graduates not to underestimate the power of consistency, kindness, and integrity. The world often celebrates big moments, but most meaningful lives are built quietly, through ordinary decisions repeated over time.
And perhaps most importantly, I hope they remember this: who you become matters just as much as what you achieve. Protect your character. Protect your relationships. Protect your well-being. Success means very little if it costs you yourself in the process.
There will be moments when you doubt your capacity, your direction, or your worth. In those moments, borrow belief from the people who see something in you until you are able to carry it again for yourself. Better days are always ahead. You can do hard things. You can do great things. Keep going long enough to meet them. And when you do, may you never forget to turn around, reach back, and help the person behind you believe they can make it too.
GAIL KANEB
PRESIDENT, BREAKTHROUGH STRATGIES AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE TOM & GAIL KANEB FAMILY FOUNDATION
What does this award mean to you personally?
Making a difference in the lives of those around me has always been a core motivation for me. To be recognized for that impact is both humbling and deeply gratifying.
It’s also especially meaningful to be included among such an accomplished group of past and current recipients. That sense of shared purpose and contribution makes the honour even more special.
How have your interactions with St. Lawrence College influenced your path and the work that led to this award?
St. Lawrence College plays a vital role in our community by providing accessible, practical education to a wide range of students—recent high school graduates, university graduates seeking career-focused skills, and adults pursuing new directions. That access strengthens both individuals and the community as a whole.
My husband Tom and I have always believed in supporting that mission. Over the years, we’ve been proud to contribute and advocate for the college, most recently through support for the nursing and paramedic labs—investments that will have a direct and lasting impact on community health and well-being.
What wisdom would you share with SLC graduates based on your own experiences in your education and career?
Stay flexible and invest in the relationships you build along the way. Most importantly, show up. My career has taken many unexpected turns—I’ve had six different careers, starting with a role in computer sales at IBM, then entrepreneurship, consulting, later leadership and organizational development, and now venture capitalist and philanthropist. At times, especially when working part-time while raising a family, I felt like I was falling behind—but in reality, I was building skills and perspectives that became invaluable later.
Getting involved—especially through volunteer and board work—opened doors I couldn’t predict. People notice what you bring, and those relationships often lead to new opportunities. Every stage, even the uncertain ones, teaches you something useful. So, stay open, keep contributing, and trust that your path is unfolding in ways that will make sense over time.