Maurice Lebel, honourary Doctor of Laws degree recipient, speaking from podium during Convocation ceremony held in Physical Education gymnasium.

Bio/Historical Note: Born in Saint-Lin, Quebec, Maurice Lebel received a BA in 1928 from Université de Montréal and an MA in 1930 from Université Laval. In 1931 Lebel received a Diplôme d'Études Supérieures in language and classical literature from the Sorbonne. In 1932 he received a Diploma in language and English literature and a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1935 from the University of London. He received a Ph.D. in education in 1952 and a D.Litt. from the University of Athens in 1957. From 1937-1975 Lebel was a professor of language and Greek literature at Université Laval. From 1957-1963 he was the dean of the Faculty of Letters. From 1963-1964 he was the president of the Royal Society of Canada (he was made a Fellow in 1947) and was awarded the Pierre Chauveau Medal in 1962. In 1967, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 1994 he was made an Officer of the National Order of Quebec. Lebel died in 2006 at age 96.