Graduation Address

"Spring Convocation UNBSJ." (27 May 1994). (UA Case 67, Box 3)

Your worship, Chancellor Eaton, President and Vice-Chancellor Armstrong, Vice-President Miner, Senator Cohen, Senator Kinsella, distinguished guests, members of the Board of Governors and the University Senate, faculty members, fellow members of the graduating class, ladies and gentlemen:

I am honoured by having been invited to be with you this afternoon and to speak to the graduates, faculty and friends of this institution, for which I have so much affection. You will not be surprised if, at such a moment, I reminisce about my strong and enduring links with UNBSJ, as a former mayor, a resident of Saint John and a member of the Board of Governors for eleven years.

I remember well UNBSJ opening its doors in September 1964. And with the generous support of the residents of this city, and the inspired leadership of the late Dr. Forbes Elliot and Dr. Colin MacKay, and their successors in Saint John and in Fredericton, along with government representatives, UNBSJ evolved into the magnificent first class university which deserves well of those who have benefited from it.

I had the particular pleasure to serve as the Mayor of Saint John during the time that this campus experienced unprecedented growth. The members of common council and the residents o this city were immensely proud of the construction of the Philip W. Oland Hall, the Sir James Dunn Residence, the Thomas J. Condon Student Centre and this fine building, the G. Forbes Elliot Athletic Centre.

Today, UNBSJ truly is a modern university. And, to me, UNBSJ is a splendid university. John Masefield’s tribute to the English universities is fitting. He wrote, "There are few earthy things more beautiful than a University…a place where those who hate ignorance may strive to know, where those who perceive truth may strive to make others see."

Daniel Webster speaking about Dartmouth College in the early 19th century said, "It is, sir, as I have said, a small college, and yet there are those who love it." It seems to me that these words capture the spirit of the residents of this city and of all those who come into contact with UNBSJ.

I am very proud today, because you do me a great honour by conferring this honorary degree on me at the 20th Spring Convocation of UNBSJ. I appreciate this great honour that the University of New Brunswick has bestowed upon me, and assure you of my desire to meet all the obligations that come with it.

My purpose this afternoon is to speak to the graduates. I hope that you realize how much we depend upon you. Your responsibilities, therefore, will require a versatility and an adaptability never before required in our society. You are entering a difficult and complex world. Five years after the end of the Cold War, in many respects the world is unstable. The American writer Robert Kaplan argues in February’s Atlantic Monthly that the political character of the first half of the next century will be characterized by scarcity, crime, overpopulation, tribalism, and disease which even now is rapidly destroying the social fabric of our planet.

And realistically, Kaplan is writing at a time when there is extraordinary anxiety about the future. Ethnic cleansing in the former Yugoslavia and warlordism in Somalia are almost daily reminders that the world is still a dangerous place. Environmental threats such as global warming and rapid population growth remind us the world is also a fragile one.

And indeed, the world is faced with immense problems. It would be foolish to argue otherwise. But, as most people know I am not a doomsayer. In fact, I have very little time for doomsayers. Some theorists write very convincingly about the apocalypse. All I will say about their writing is that it is fascinating, often terrifying stuff, and it is also usually exaggerated.

I feel much more comfortable arguing the side of the optimists. A recent article in the Globe and Mail concluded that rather than the apocalypse, by almost every measure, life on earth is getting better. People are healthier. Life expectancy over the past 30 years grew from 53 years to 65 years. Thank goodness or I wouldn’t be here. Educational growth is encouraging. The rate of world primary-school enrolment increased from less than 70 per cent to well over 80 per cent in the past 20 years.

Despite three major recessions, the world economy has grown by an average of 3.9 per cent per year over the past 30 years. And even some of the most overpopulated places on Earth – Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan have experienced among the highest rates of economic success.

Despite the horrible conflicts in the Balkans and in Africa, which are so graphically televised by CNN, the number of major conflicts in the world actually dropped from 1989 to 1992. And who can overlook the incredible progress along the path to peace in the Middle East and in South Africa.

Again, although there are exceptions, life for the majority of the world’s inhabitants is getting steadily better by most measurements.

And Canada, where most of you will make your way is no exception. Canada is ranked this year by the United Nations as the second best country in the world. In fact, most of us, deep in our hearts, think of Canada as the best country in the world. Sometimes a country’s worth is not measured in might and money, but in values and by its quality of life. Canada is such a country.

We are a prosperous, peaceful and pluralist country. Canadian pluralism is a model for the world. As Prince Charles said in an address at Queen’s University: "The world needs Canada."

Canada’s not perfect. We’ve had our share of intolerance. But at least as a country we have learned from our mistakes, and with each generation Canada becomes a more diverse and tolerant place.

Let’s consider some of the attributes of the Canadian family.

We live under the roof of a constitutional monarchy. We honour the Crown as the symbol of continuity and constitutional authority in our land.

In our House of Commons, every day, you hear and see the diversity of this truly magnificent country. In the accents, in the language, in the concerns of the 295 members of the House. In a way, the most interesting part of the parliamentary day is the 15 minutes before Question Period, when MP’s each have an opportunity to bring to the attention of the House matters of concern or pride in their own communities. That is when you see the diversity of Canada.

We are a multicultural country, a mosaic rather than a melting pot, and in that sense we are also different from Americans. Millions of Canadians came from Europe after the turn of the century and the Second World War, and recently in the new wave from Asia and the Pacific Rim nations. Now as then, they enrich our land, enhance our values, and expand the horizons of our tolerant society.

(Citizenship Court – 32 people sworn in)

Everything is not equal in Canada. For historical reasons Atlantic Canada lags before central Canada. We have been known to lag behind central Canada in the use of technology in service and manufacturing industries, but that’s changing. We lag behind in per capita earned income but we’re catching up. The latest unemployment figures show more serious problems here in the Atlantic Region than in other parts of Canada, but the number of unemployed in the region is falling and the number of employed is growing.

Everything is not equal, but that’s changing. This is a great country, this Canada of ours, a country worth working for.

I have made the optimists case for the world you will be entering. Your education has prepared you well to direct it. It has equipped you to think honestly and straight; to distinguish between the true and false; to appreciate quality and beauty wherever it may be found; and to be able to participate with intelligence and tolerance in the exchange of ideas that will result in the creation of an even greater society.

Your obligation is to leave to your children and to your grand children a world that is more prosperous, more compassionate and more tolerant than the world you are inheriting.

As educated men and women, you will not be discouraged by troubles and difficulties along the path. You will accept them as a call to action and as a challenge.

Perhaps, Dr. Eaton’s words at his installation as chancellor in May 1993 should be repeated. He said "No one in this, or any other day I suspect, can expect to be given a free ride or indeed a free lunch. If someone offers you a free lunch, be as skeptical as the salmon in the New Brunswick rivers. There is probably a hook in it." Boy I can’t think of any better advice than that.

I invite you to reach out in your communities. I urge you to get involved and to participate in your local voluntary associations. I can tell you from experience, that your reward will be the pride that you will feel, knowing that you have contributed to ensuring that those less fortunate than yourselves have their needs met and that you have enhanced the quality of life of others. One can only gain by helping others. Two young men, university graduates, got permanent employment through their contacts made while working for the United Way agency as volunteers. By sharing you become enriched and everyone wins.

In the years ahead, some of you will serve in the highest councils of the country. Some of you will go to the far corners of the earth, and possibly to the far reaches of space. Still others will design and build our buildings, while others will teach our children and some will enhance our spiritual lives.

What ever your position, the University of New Brunswick in Saint John and the residents of this community have provided you with a sense of purpose and a set of values that will enable you to tackle your challenges with determination and with hope.

I want to extend my personal congratulations to each graduate. I know how happy you are and I know how proud your families an your friends are of your accomplishment. Today is your day. May God be with you in all your future endeavours.

Good luck.