Honorary degree recipient - Margie Gillis

Citation reader: Angelique Wilke

Monsieur le recteur, j’ai l’honneur de vous présenter Madame Margie Gillis, une illustre ambassadrice culturelle et artistique du Québec et du Canada.

Lorsque Madame Gillis s’est révélée au public dans le milieu des années 1970, elle a vite gagné en notoriété dans le milieu de la danse contemporaine grâce à sa gestuelle puissante et novatrice et à sa voix singulière.

As a solo dancer and choreographer, Ms. Gillis has since performed or created more than 150 original works seen by thousands and thousands across North and South America, Asia and Europe. She has appeared in dozens of film and photography projects and collaborated with some of the most important companies and dance artists of her era.

She founded the Margie Gillis Dance Foundation to support and present her artistic works, while the Margie Gillis Legacy Project Dance Company allows her to share her wisdom with the next generation of artists. Ms. Gillis also strongly believes in the power of dance to create positive change in the world — particularly in support of social justice and health-focused issues.

Monsieur le recteur, au nom du conseil d’administration et du sénat, j’ai le privilège et l’honneur de vous présenter Madame Margie Gillis, afin que vous lui décerniez un doctorat ès beaux-arts, honoris causa.

*Due to 2020 Covid-19 Pandemic restrictions, Margie Gillis was presented with her Honorary Degree at the Spring Graduation Ceremony held on June 7, 2022.