Honorary Degree: J. William (Bill) Ritchie

J. William (Bill) Ritchie

Born in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, J. William (Bill) Ritchie has raised millions of dollars for governments,   businesses, charitable institutions and individuals over a nearly six decade-long career in the investment industry. He has also mentored and assisted many start-up companies and aspiring entrepreneurs during his career.

In 1951, Mr. Ritchie received his BSc (Agr.) from McGill University (Macdonald College) specializing in economics. After his graduation he joined a leading investment firm, A.E. Ames & Co. Limited, where he spent four years being trained in the art of finance. From there he and a partner acquired a small firm in Fredericton, which was later sold to Eastern Securities Co. Limited of Saint John. That firm transferred Mr. Ritchie to Halifax in 1958, where he managed their operations until resigning in 1963 to acquire Scotia Bond Company Limited with a silent partner.

From a relatively modest beginning with only one salesman and two assistants, Mr. Ritchie grew the company to a total of fifty five employees in four offices. Along the way, the company acquired seats on the Montreal and Toronto Stock Exchanges. The company engaged in both institutional and retail business and acted as a fiscal agent for the Province of Nova Scotia.

During the seventies, Mr. Ritchie worked very closely with Michael Donovan helping him with the establishment of the film industry in Nova Scotia. He was a director of Salter Street Films Limited which was subsequently sold to Alliance Atlantic a leading Canadian film production company of that era.     Subsequently Mr. Donovan incorporated DHX Inc. which in twelve years has grown to become a leading owner and provider of children’s television programming with a market capitalization of nearly one billion dollars. Mr. Richie assisted with the financing of that entity and served as a director from inception until his retirement from the board in 2014.

Mr. Ritche has been involved in numerous business ventures over the years including his role as Chairman and CEO of Scotia Bond. He was a founder of Keltic Savings Corporation Limited. He served on over forty boards of directors for various periods of time including over twenty-five years on the boards of Empire Company Limited and Sobeys Inc.

Mr. Ritchie is currently active on the boards of Kivuto Inc., SimplyCast and Morien Resources Inc.

Honorary Degree: Louise Bradley

Louise Bradley

Louise Bradley, MS, RN, CHE, has dedicated her professional life to improving the mental health of Canadians.

Ms. Bradley’s own deeply personal experience with recovery has informed a leadership style that is both compassionate and courageous. Unwavering in her commitment to reimagining a recovery-oriented, person-centred mental health system, Ms. Bradley has influenced improved patient care through large-scale hospital administration and pioneered recovery within a forensics and corrections setting.

An impassioned advocate, Ms. Bradley feels her professional perspective is enriched and authenticated by her lived experience. In her current role as President and CEO of the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC), Ms. Bradley oversaw the development of Canada’s first Mental Health Strategy, undertook the signature Opening Minds anti-stigma initiative, and created a globally recognized Knowledge Exchange Centre. A tireless advocate for workplace mental health, Ms. Bradley has overseen the creation of the world’s first workplace psychological safety standard, which has gained international acclaim.

Lauded as a transformational leader by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA), Ms. Bradley will receive the 2017 Humanitarian Award for her work to enhance the psychological well-being of Canadians. Ms. Bradley is also the recipient of the Innovation Award for Health Care Leadership, bestowed by the Canadian College of Health Leaders, as well as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.

She holds degrees from Dalhousie University and Northeastern University in Boston, and is frequently called upon to speak and write nationally and internationally on various mental health topics. Ms. Bradley uses her platform to urge increased mental health funding, and highlight the need to work inclusively to address the mental health needs of vulnerable and at-risk populations.

Ms. Bradley has a passion for nurturing emerging mental health leaders, and prioritizes the mentorship of young champions in the hope of inspiring the next generation of transformational leaders.