Alumnus John Bennett to Receive Honorary Degree
W. John Bennett (SMC 6T7), who has long given generously of his time and talents to the University of St. Michael’s College, will be awarded a Doctor of the University of St. Michael’s College degree, honoris causa, at the inaugural Regis St. Michael’s Faculty of Theology (RSM) convocation on Saturday, November 8th at 2 pm in St. Basil’s Church.
A merchant banker, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Bennett is the CEO and Principal of BenvestHoldings/Bennett Church Hill Capital Inc. With more than four decades of successful merchant banking and entrepreneurial experience, he has served on the boards of numerous private and public enterprises and is an active philanthropist with a historical and educational focus.
“John Bennett is an invaluable champion of St. Michael’s, carrying forward his father William Bennett’s dedication to support his much-loved alma mater,” says University President David Sylvester. “It is particularly fitting that John should receive this honorary degree at the inaugural RSM convocation ceremony, given how instrumental he and his generosity have been to the success of the federation.”
Bennett was a member of Collegium, St. Michael’s principal governing body, from 2014-2022, serving as chair from 2015-2017. He was an active advisor in the talks leading to the federation of St. Michael’s with Regis College, serving on the federation steering committee, its governance subcommittee, and chairing its finance subcommittee. Chair of St. Michael’s most recent Presidential Search Committee, he is also a trustee of the St. Michael’s Foundation, which promotes and encourages education at St. Michael’s College. He is the current chair of the board of the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies (PIMS).
He recently created the W. J. Bennett Family Chair of Christianity and the Arts, which builds on family connections to the St. Michael’s community that date back decades.
He holds an Hons BA and an LLB from the University of Toronto and in 2019 was awarded U of T’s prestigious Arbor Award for volunteer service. In 2012 he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal and he received an honorary degree from PIMS in 2023.
A resident of Montreal, Bennett is married to Diana Collins Bennett (SMC 6T8). They have three children: Carl, Patrick, and Diana. Bennett has extensive family connections to St. Michael’s, with his father, William (Bill) graduating in 1934, as well as numerous siblings and extended family members part of the St. Mike’s alumni community. William Bennett, John’s father, received an honorary doctorate from St. Michael’s in 1986.
Since 1969, the University of St. Michael’s College has awarded honorary degrees as its highest honour, using its statutory authority as an independent university to bestow doctorates on individuals whose achievements embody or advance St. Michael’s mission, vision, and values as a Catholic institution of higher learning. Honorary Degrees are awarded to individuals who have achieved world-class excellence and exceptionality over their careers.
Formal recommendations of honorary degree candidates are made by the USMC Senate’s Committee on Honorary Degrees and approved by the Senate. Honorary degrees are typically conferred at the University of St. Michael’s College Convocation in the fall.