DR. GORD DURNAN GETS HONORARY NIPISSING UNIVERSITY DEGREE
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
NORTH BAY — Education is rewarding and humbling.
One day you’re on stage telling graduates they can do anything in the world with their degree, and a day or two later life rains on your parade and you’re parking cars.
Dr. Gordon Durnan knows that after receiving an honorary degree from Nipissing University Wednesday, and Saturday he was back home at Gull Lake Rotary Park for the Gravenhurst Chamber of Commerce Car Show.
On June 12 he was recognized — with all the trapping of a mature green gown and speech — for his contribution to education during a school of nursing convocation, part of three days of graduate presentations over three days.
Yesterday morning he was standing in the rain under an umbrella sporting a lime green T-shirt that blared ‘Gravenhurst Rocks!’
The former university board of directors member was his same jovial self directing traffic and sharing a laugh with each driver, many of whom he knew.
Days before he and his family took an overnight trip back to Nipissing’s North Bay Campus for the presentation.
“Convocation is an acknowledgement of the incredible accomplishments of our graduates, and a celebration for their families and supporters,” said Dr. Mike DeGagné, President and Vice-Chancellor of Nipissing University. “We are grateful to our honorary degree recipients for accepting this distinction, and we look forward to their participation in celebrating the class of 2019.”
“We all gathered,” said his daughter in a post-presentation, “to bear witness to the honour being bestowed upon the one the only Gordon H. Durnan (aka: Dad & Grandpa). He received an Honorary Degree in recognition of all his work and commitment, not only during his time serving the Nipissing board of governors, but also his lifelong dedication to philanthropy and his community.
“To say we are super proud of him is an understatement. Congratulations Dr. Durnan on this well-deserved honour!!”
He said the day-long honour was “a lot of fun” and included a dinner at night with the other recipients and school officials.
He says he’s gotten all kinds of congratulations from across North America.
Dr. Durnan is a member of numerous local fundraising and charity boards, including the Gravenhurst Rotary Club and Muskoka Community Foundation.
His honour read:
Mr. Gordon H. Durnan
Born in Kitchener-Waterloo, Mr. Gordon H. Durnan grew up in a family with a passion for community service.
In 1977, Mr. Durnan began his career in healthcare philanthropy as the first managing Director of the newly formed York Central Hospital Foundation in Richmond Hill, Ontario.
He joined the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) and for a few years, he served as the only Canadian director on each organization’s Board. He also became one of the first Canadians to receive the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation from AFP, and the first to receive the Fellow (FAHP) designation from AHP.
After ten years with York Central, Gord and his family relocated to Muskoka, where he began his new position as the Managing Director of the South Muskoka Foundation until his retirement in 2005.
In his active retirement, Gord has served on multiple boards, including the Sandra Schmirler Foundation and the Board of Community Foundations of Canada. He served as the Founder and Vice-Chair of the Muskoka Community Foundation, Director of the Cottage Country Family Health Team and most recently, served as the Chair of the Board of Governor’s at Nipissing University from 2017-2018.
Throughout his full and rich professional career, Mr. Durnan has been honoured with the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and the AHP’s Si Seymour Award. In 1996, he was named Fundraising Executive of the Year by AFP.
Gord currently lives in Gravenhurst with his family and when he’s not volunteering, he is enjoying himself on the golf course.
The ceremony took place at the Robert J. Surtees Student Athletics Centre at Nipissing University.
The other recipients were:
Evanka Osmak, Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at 2:00 PM – Faculty of Arts & Science;
George Flumerfelt, Wednesday, June 12, 2019 at 2:00 PM – Faculty of Applied & Professional Studies;
Anne Gingras, Thursday, June 13, 2019 at 9:30 AM – Schulich School of Education;
Richard Tafel, Thursday, June 13, 2019 at 2:00 PM – Schulich School of Education (Consecutive BEd)
