Spring Convocation has officially come to a close following four ceremonies this week.

On Tuesday, June 11, the season's final honorary degree was conferred upon Gerald Sutton, former president of Canada's first venture capital company.

Gerald Sutton arrived in Canada from England in 1941 and settled in Chatham, Ont. Two years later he joined the RCAF at the age of 17 and would be commissioned as a pilot. Following his service he enrolled in the Commerce program Queen’s University, graduating in 1948. A year later he graduated from the Master of Commerce program. Working in the head office of the Bank of Montreal he would become Assistant Economic Adviser but left in 1958 to be Director of Research at Nesbitt, Thompson And Company Limited, now BMO Nesbitt Burns. In 1961 he organized Canada’s first venture capital company, Canadian Enterprise Development Corporation Limited (CED). He was appointed General Manager in 1964 and subsequently President of CED. Throughout his career, Sutton was also a pioneer in organizing and supporting not-for-profit organizations to improve the quality of life for developmentally handicapped people. Sutton and his wife Margaret, also a graduate of Queen’s, are enthusiastic supporters of Queen’s and have established a number of bursaries, awards and scholarships. Two rooms in Goodes Hall bear their names.

Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science undergraduates were conferred during the final spring ceremony on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 12. The occasion also marked Daniel Woolf's final convocation as Principal and Vice-Chancellor, before he leaves the post on June 30 after 10 years of service.

A total of 18 ceremonies were held for Spring Convocation, with seven honorary degrees conferred by Queen’s during the events.

More photos of this season's convocation events can be viewed at the Queen’s University page on flickr.