delivered version with two paragraphs taken out at pp. 7

DELIVERED VERSION WITH TWO PARAGRAPHS TAKEN OUT AT PP. 7-8
A UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
AN ADDRESS BY
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE BRIAN DICKSON
AT THE
MCGILL UNIVERSITY CONVOCATION
Montreal, Quebec.
June 10, 1987
Eminent Vice-Chancellor, distinguished guests, graduates of
the Class of 1987, ladies and gentlemen.
Éminent Vice-Chancelier, distingués invités, diplômés de la
promotion de 1987, Mesdames et Messieurs.
I would like to speak briefly today about the enormous
value of a university education in a democratic society and about
how that education is promoted while at university and enlarged and
enriched once you leave the halls of academe.
Universities are a key institution in democratic societies.
In the university setting, the fundamental values of democracy and
social
justice
are
fostered.
In
the
pursuit
of
a
deeper
understanding of our world, scholars and students are engaged in a
challenging and creative dialogue.
It is a dialogue that requires
honesty, openess of mind and spirit, and compassion. These are the
values exalted in a community of scholarship, and they are values
sorely needed in our contemporary society.
As a Judge, I am well aware of the limits of formal rules
and regulations in shaping the conduct of our fellow citizens. The
great English jurist, Lord Mansfield, once noted, with subtle
wisdom, that the measure of a civilization is its adherence to the
unenforceable.
powerful truth:
In that simple aphorism, Lord Mansfield captured a
we cannot rely solely upon a legal system, a set
of rules, to create a tolerant and just society.
The spirit of
compassion, of fairness, and the willingness to view the ideas and
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aspirations of all people with an open and inquiring mind, must
grow within us all if democracy and justice are to be promoted in
Canadian society.
Universities serve as beacons in the pursuit of democratic
values in Canada, and none more so than McGill.
Although its
founding in the early years of the nineteenth century was fraught
with uncertainties and conflicts, McGill established itself very
early as
a
national
and,
excellence in education.
indeed,
an
international
centre
of
From modest beginnings in what was then
a small, provincial city, McGill has grown into one of the major
universities in the Western world.
Its faculties nurture scholars
of international standing and its programmes and graduates touch
the lives of people in all parts of the globe.
The
pursuit
self-absorbed.
of
excellence
at
McGill
has
never
been
The University recognized a vocation in public
service when, in 1899 and 1902, McGill assisted in the formation of
Vancouver College and Victoria College in British Columbia.
The
project enabled young British Columbians to gain a post-secondary
education in their home province.
McGill
continua
à
s'engager
dans
la
grande
cause
de
l'éducation lorsque, durant la Première guerre mondiale, elle
participa à la création de ce qu'on a appelé l'université "kaki"
pour assurer la formation des milliers de soldats canadiens postés
outre-mer. Plus tard, au cours des années 30, McGill est de nouveau
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allée au devant des étudiants par son service rural de formation
des adultes.
L'esprit ouvert de cette grande université se manifeste de
bien des façons sur son campus même. McGill accueille maintenant
des étudiants de partout dans le monde et a particulièrement bien
réussi à encourager l'éducation supérieure des étudiants doués
venant des pays en voie de développement. Sur le campus, vous avez
reconnu et favorisé la dualité linguistique de notre pays d'une
façon des plus notables. Dans plusieurs facultés, des cours sont
offerts dans les deux langues officielles. Å la faculté de droit,
vous êtes unique au monde en offrant un programme totalement
intégré d'études portant sur les deux grandes traditions juridiques
de l'occident. L'université a créé des centres d'études juives,
islamiques
et
asiatiques
pour
que
la
pensée
de
ces
cultures
anciennes et toujours animées vienne éclairer les problèmes de la
société occidentale contemporaine. Un intérêt actif dans la pensée
d'autrui est le plus grand présent d'une université à la société.
I believe that there remains a significant way in which
openness of mind and spirit can be encouraged even more powerfully
within Canadian universities. I would recommend the development of
more, much more, interdisciplinary programmes of study.
All
people, and particularly people educated to serve in the various
professions,
should
be
made
more
sensitive
to
the
valuable
contributions of philosophers, economists, historians, scientists
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and social scientists.
In recent years, after the Proclamation of
the
of
Canadian
constitutional
Charter
document
Rights
which
and
Freedoms,
protects
the
a
fundamental
liberties
of
all
Canadians, I have become increasingly aware of the wide range of
economic, philosophical and sociological arguments that may be
advanced by lawyers to aid in the Supreme Court's interpretation of
the Charter. This trend will continue, and lawyers must be broadly
educated to fulfil an increasingly demanding role.
Similarly,
managers in Canadian and international business must be aware of a
wide range of economic, psychological and sociological thought if
they are to be sensitive to co-workers and effective in promoting
the businesses they serve.
I would note also that this is the
international year of the engineer, and that Montreal is the scene
of a celebration of the life of one of the greatest engineers of
all time - Leonardo da Vinci.
Hundreds of years ago that genius
realized that the fields of human endeavour are not discrete
compartments.
Engineers should of course be informed by a deep
understanding of the principles of physics and of aesthetics.
Being professionals who must function in a wider business milieu,
engineers would also be well advised to develop some aquaintance
with psychology and economics.
Teachers and students in professional faculties should
never lose sight of their connection with a larger university
community; you all share in the greater enterprise of liberal
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education.
I applaud McGill for its efforts in creating a rich
life of interdisciplinary study.
The Centre for the Study of
Regulated Industries and the new Centre of Medicine, Ethics and Law
are valuable creations.
So too is the law and MBA Programme.
I
encourage you to explore creatively the possibilities for more such
endeavours.
Because of its location in a bi-cultural city and
because
its
of
unparalleled
ties
with
the
national
and
international academic communities, McGill University is ideally
situated
to
pursue
a
vigourous
course
of
interdisciplinary
scholarship.
J'ai parlé de l'inspiration que communique une université.
Pour les diplômés d'aujourd'hui, toutefois, la remise des diplômes
n'est probablement pas une source de joie sans mélange. Vous êtes
sûrement nombreux à être tristes de laisser derrière vous vos
années à McGill. Vous vous souviendrez de ces années comme d'une
période excitante remplie d'amitiés. Beaucoup de travail, bien sûr,
mais du plaisir aussi. Vous avez aussi des craintes sur ce que
l'avenir vous réserve. Laissez-moi vous rassurer: votre formation
constitue une ressource illimitée. Avec un peu de soin, vous pouvez
l'alimenter tout au long de vos vies.
The key is to view today's Convocation as but a marking on
a trail that extends for many more miles.
You may have completed
your formal education, but the need to inquire, to learn, to
explore has not ended.
Matthew Arnold, the English critic and
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essayist, once wrote that "culture" should properly be described as
the study of perfection.
Although perfection is an unattainable
goal, the history of Western culture may be seen as a continual
striving towards an ever-changing vision of the perfect.
Even in
our own lives, perfection is never achieved, but for the creative
person it is a constant goal, and it can only be sought through
dialogue with others in an open-minded spirit.
Most of you graduates are somewhat younger than me, and for
you the greatest challenges are just beginning. The University has
educated you in an open-minded way of being and I have encouraged
you to foster it throughout your lives.
We are blessed to live in
a country rich with opportunity, but sometimes when we are young,
it is difficult to see opportunity when it presents itself.
An
educated professional can so easily follow the established paths to
success that he or she may fail to respond to challenges that are
less obvious.
yet
to
be
Yet Canada is still a young country and so much has
done.
There
is
no
reason
for
complacency.
In
Management, in Engineering and in Law, you still have worlds to
create.
Let me close, therefore, with an invitation.
It is an
invitation first extended by a man who in many ways exemplified all
of the values of the University that I have described today.
was
an
outstanding
poet,
a
brilliant
essayist,
an
He
inspiring
professor, a superb constitutional lawyer and a great son of
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McGill.
He was, of course, F.R. Scott.
Scott believed, as I
believe, that there is a spirit in this land of Canada that is
still waiting to be tapped, a powerful spirit lying deep in the
Laurentian Shield, in the Rockies and in our vital cities.
That
spirit can only be released through your great human effort.
Here
is F.R. Scott's invitation to you, an invitation in which I join:
Come, flaunt the brief prerogative of life,
Dip your small civilized foot in the cold water,
And ripple, for a moment, the smooth surface of time.
Make ripples.
Make waves.
Good luck to you all.