At Friday morning's convocation ceremony, Western's graduates were told to make arts a significant part of their lives, as it will aid in making some sense of it all.
"The arts will help you to know who you are and where you are going," Richard Monette told the second group of the 1,800 students graduating this week. "It will put success and failures into perspective and make you feel more human."
Taking the stage were students from the Faculties of Graduate Studies, Arts and Humanities, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Science, Brescia University College, Huron University College and King's University College.
Western conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws degree on Monette for contributions to the arts, in particular theatre.
Since 1994, Monette has been Artistic Director of the Stratford Festival making him the longest serving artistic director in its history. His long association with the Festival began in 1965. Since then, he has directed and played more than 40 roles at the Festival and has performed throughout Canada, Britain and the United States.
Monette has also directed for Young People's Theatre, Tarragon Theatre, Theatre Plus, the Grand Theatre, the Citadel Theatre, the Canadian Opera Company and CBC's Glenn Gould Studio.
A 1967 graduate of Concordia University (formerly Loyola College), Monette has received an honorary doctorate from his alma matter, as well as the University of Windsor. He has also received a Dora Mavor Moore Award for outstanding direction of Saint Joan at Theatre Plus, a Eugene O'Neill medallion, a Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, a Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal, a senior artist's grant from The Canada Council and in January 1998, Monette was named a Member of the Order of Canada.
Alan Somerset from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities spoke of Monette's distinction as the first Canadian Artistic Director of the Stratford Festival. He noted, "Through wonderful talent, unparalleled dedication, inspiring leadership, and sheer hard work" Monette was able to rebuild the Festival artistically and return it to financial solvency.
Monette began his speech by saying he knows he should give some paternal advice about going into the world.
"Don't go," he joked. "Alright, you do need to get out and make money, so your taxes can pay for my Canadian pension."
On a serious note, Monette commented, "art, like education, is one tool that can get you through an unpredictable world."
He added that art is like a good red wine.
"It can inspire love, is consumed for pleasure and is also good for the heart."
However, with art, said Monette, you can have as much as you like without ill effects. Bidding the group farewell, Monette added, "May you all become regular patrons of the Stratford Festival."
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