Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation Chief to receive honorary degree from York University

By Sam Laskaris

MISSISSAUGAS OF SCUGOG ISLAND FIRST NATION – Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation Chief Kelly LaRocca is “blown away” by an accolade she will receive next month.

Chief LaRocca is one of six individuals that will receive an honorary degree from Toronto’s York University at its spring convocation ceremonies, which begin June 12.

Chief LaRocca has served her community as Chief since 2013. Prior to that, she was a councillor for her community for five years.

“It was very exciting to receive notice that the school has chosen me to receive one,” Chief LaRocca said of what is her first honorary degree. “I, of course, feel very honoured, and the recognition is particularly meaningful. And I’m a little bit blown away. So, I just want to enjoy it and do my best to raise awareness to the issues that our communities care about.”

Chief LaRocca is not a York alumna. She began her post-secondary career at Western University, where she received an undergraduate degree in philosophy.

She then obtained a law degree from the University of Windsor. She attended the master’s of law programming at the University of Victoria law school and successfully completed all coursework. However, her thesis remains pending completion one day when she moves on from public service.

Chief LaRocca is not sure who nominated her for an honorary degree.

“I have done some public speaking engagements there and I certainly follow the professors and their academic work a little bit,” she said. “There are some Indigenous professors there who do great work.”

One of these individuals is Alan Corbiere, a M’Chigeeng First Nation member, who is a chair of Indigenous history at the university.

“He speaks about the wampum belts and their meaning to Canadian and Indigenous history,” Chief LaRocca said. “I’ve certainly watched Professor Corbiere speak a number of times and have read his work.”

Chief LaRocca has also done numerous speaking engagements alongside other professors from York’s Osgoode Hall Law School.

“I have many law colleagues over my time that have graduated from Osgoode, so I can suppose there’s connectivity there,” she added. “And I know of a few professors in the environmental science faculty who do great work on lake health and the environment and greenbelt protection work.”

Former Toronto Raptors’ head coach Nick Nurse, who is now the bench boss for the Philadelphia 76ers, is also receiving an honorary degree from York at next month’s convocation ceremonies.

The other recipients are entrepreneur Wayne Isaacs, corporate lawyer and adjunct professor Angela Swan, Francois Boileau, who is the taxpayers’ ombudsperson for Canada, and Malcolm King, a professor and scientific director for the Institute of Aboriginal Peoples’ Health.

“I actually don’t know any of my fellow recipients, though I, of course, would like to extend my congratulations to them as well,” Chief LaRocca said. “I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting them as yet, but I’m sure I will during the ceremonies.”

Chief LaRocca is also excited about some other news.

“We’re entering a new council elections,” she said. “And I’ve just been acclaimed for four more years, which is truly an honour and a gift to be honest. I feel very fortunate.”