Paralympian Jason Dunkerley and investment leader Ed Devlin to receive honorary degrees at fall convocation

Aug. 31, 2026
For Immediate Release

WATERLOO and BRANTFORD — As part of Wilfrid Laurier University’s fall convocation ceremonies, Paralympian Jason Dunkerley and investment leader Ed Devlin will receive honorary degrees. 

Waterloo campus ceremonies take place at Lazaridis Hall on Oct. 14, 15 and 16. The Brantford campus ceremony will be held at the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts on Oct. 20.

Ed Devlin, Honorary Doctor of Laws

Oct. 15, 1:30 p.m., Waterloo

Ed Devlin is the founder and managing partner of Devlin Capital, an investment firm focused on the global fixed income markets. A graduate of Laurier with a Bachelor of Business Administration, Devlin was awarded the university's Gold Medal for academic excellence. He earned an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Before founding Devlin Capital, Devlin spent nearly 15 years at Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO) as a managing director and head of Canadian portfolio management. He co-founded PIMCO Canada, helping grow its assets to more than $50 billion from Canadian clients. Between 2009 and 2014, Devlin was based in London, U.K., serving on the European Portfolio Committee, which oversaw more than US$500 billion in assets. Prior to PIMCO, Devlin held senior roles with Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch, working in London, Tokyo, Toronto, Hong Kong and New York. He is a senior fellow at the C.D. Howe Institute. Devlin also chairs the endowment board of the Stratford Festival.

Jason Dunkerley, Honorary Doctor of Laws
Oct. 20, 2 p.m., Brantford

Jason Dunkerley is a celebrated Paralympian, author and advocate whose life story exemplifies resilience, perseverance and hope. Born blind due to Leber’s congenital amaurosis, a rare inherited eye condition, Dunkerley discovered running as a student and went on to build one of Canada’s most distinguished Paralympic track careers. Representing Canada at five Paralympic Games between 2000 and 2016, he earned five Paralympic medals, in addition to his four world championship titles and multiple Parapan American Games medals. After immigrating from Northern Ireland to Canada, Dunkerley attended the W. Ross Macdonald School for the Blind in Brantford. He credits that school’s educators with playing a transformative role in his journey, leading him to publicly champion the impact of teaching and mentorship. Dunkerley has overcome significant challenges throughout his life, including suffering injuries after being struck by a car, donating a kidney to a family member and coping with profound personal loss. His 2024 autobiography, Visions of Hope: Running Towards My Own Truth, reflects on these experiences with honesty and insight.

Tickets are required for all Laurier convocation ceremonies. Members of the media are asked to RSVP to attend. For more information about convocation, visit wlu.ca/convocation.