Learning, Walter John

ENCAENIA, MAY, 1978
WALTER JOHN LEARNING
to be Doctor of Letters

We have been warned, Mr. President, that

A little learning is a dangerous thing
Drink deep or touch not the Pierian spring.

This "well graced actor" has himself heeded the admonition. He has drunk deep of the clear cup in the hands of Polyhymnia -- one of the nine muses who guard the sacred well of artistic inspiration.

From Newfoundland he came to Parnassus to master deep philosophy -- in his student days he was known as "the poor man’s Plato" -- but cheerfulness kept breaking in, and he early succumbed to the blandishments of the muse of mimic art. It is true that "AlI the world's a stage" and this man in his time has played many parts. In a decade of splendid creativity as writer, director, actor, reviewer and critic Walter Learning has given full measure, pressed down and overflowing, to this Province, this City and this University. He exits now to the larger stage of the Canada Council with the applause and gratitude of his last, but not least, New Brunswick audience.

Insignissime Praeses, tota Universitas, praesento vobis Gualterium Johannem Learning ut admittatur honoris causa ad gradum Doctoris in Litteris in hac Universitate.

From: Honoris Causa - UA Case 70, Box 2