Honorary degree citation - Arthur J. Gosselin

By: Robert Lambert, June 1982

Mr. Chancellor, I have the honour to present to you, Arthur Gosselin, sensitive witness, articulate minister and indefatigable asset to the cultural and edycational aspirations of Quebec's visually impaired population.

A university is, Mr. Chancellor, an expression of the need and ability of people to learn together. A man moved to learn of and for others so that they, in turn, might better do the same, is I submit, a university scholar of admirable attainment. To him, therefore, rightly belongs any university's recognitions and honours.

Since 1958, Arthur Gosselin has personally and without remuneration, transcribed in both English and French Braille, thousands of pages of text. Among his transcriptions are some 300 novels, the Oxford Concise Dictionary, the Oxford Companion of Canadian History and Literature, the Civil Code of Quebec, and the Criminal Code of Canada. Additionally, during these years, Mr. Gosselin has trained many other volunteers, so that the fruit of his efforts might be multiplied; and he has made the constructive productive blind person believable to thousands of individuals through his public appearances and media presentations.

Mr. Gosselin's work on behalf of the visually impaired has been often honoured. In 1969 he received the Award of Merit from the Association of Blind University Students and Professionals. In 1970 he received the Award of Merit Medal and Honorary Life Membership in the Canadian Council of the Blind. In 1971 he was named an Order of Canada Officer. In 1972 he received an Award for Meritorious Citizenship from the Montreal Citizenship Council. In 1977 he received the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal and the Order of Canada 10th Anniversary Gold Medallion.

Mr. Chancellor, it is a privilege to present to you, on behalf of the Senate, and by the authority of the Board of Governors, Arthur Gosselin, that you may confer on him the Degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.