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UVic honouring human-rights advocate, tech entrepreneur

A human-rights champion and a visionary American high-tech entrepreneur are receiving honorary degrees at the University of Victoria’s convocation ceremonies this week.
University of Victoria UVic generic
University of Victoria

A human-rights champion and a visionary American high-tech entrepreneur are receiving honorary degrees at the University of Victoria’s convocation ceremonies this week.

Conferring honorary degrees is a tradition at many universities to recognize achievements in teaching, learning and discovery.

Kimahli Powell of Toronto received an honorary doctor of laws degree on Tuesday at the convocation ceremonies at the University Centre’s Farquhar Auditorium.

As executive director of the Canada-based Rainbow Railroad, Powell has helped hundreds of LGBTQ people escape persecution in their home countries.

A graduate of the University of Ottawa, he has a long record working with at-risk youth, LGBTQ people and those living with HIV.

American Martine Rothblatt, who launched the navigation system GeoStar and the broadcast company that became SiriusXM, will receive an honorary doctor of laws degree at today’s ceremony.

Rothblatt also founded a biotech company that developed a lung-disease drug that saved her daughter and thousands of others.

Other projects include creating 3D printed organs for transplants, and developments in robotics and artificial intelligence. Rothblatt has been listed in Forbes Magazine’s 100 Greatest Business Minds.