TMU to celebrate honorary doctorates this fall
This fall, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) will honour five individuals with honorary doctorates: Marci Ien; Marcy McCall MacBain and John H. McCall MacBain; and Suzanne Rogers and Edward S. Rogers.
Each recipient has built a career defined by leadership and impact, and each has shown a deep and lasting commitment to strengthening their communities.
Marci Ien has moved from a celebrated career in Canadian broadcasting to public service and, now, philanthropic leadership in post-secondary education.
Marcy McCall MacBain is a health researcher and philanthropic leader, and with her husband, John H. McCall MacBain, co-founded a foundation that has opened doors for students and emerging leaders around the world.
Suzanne Rogers has championed Canada's fashion industry and led major philanthropic efforts for children's welfare, while her husband, Edward S. Rogers has guided one of the country's largest communications and entertainment companies through historic growth.
TMU awards honorary degrees to those who have made extraordinary contributions to:
- Academia and/or society in Canada or internationally, particularly in fields of interest to the university;
- The development of TMU;
- The betterment of culture, society or the local community.
This fall’s recipients will receive their honorary doctorate degrees at the convocation ceremonies taking place October 15-16.
View the complete convocation schedule here.
Learn more about the honorary doctorate recipients below.
Marci Ien is the president of the George Brown College Foundation, where she brings together philanthropy, education, and community to create life-changing opportunities for students.
A respected journalist, author, and public leader, Marci spent nearly three decades in Canadian broadcasting, earning the trust of audiences through her work with CTV News, Canada AM, and as a co-host of the award-winning daytime talk show The Social. Her ability to connect with people through empathy, authenticity, and thoughtful storytelling became the hallmark of her career.
Marci later brought those same values to public service, serving as the Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre and as Canada’s minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth. During her time in cabinet, she helped advance policies focused on gender equality, inclusion, youth empowerment, and creating opportunities for Canadians to thrive.
Throughout every chapter of her career, Marci has been guided by a simple belief: leadership begins with listening. Whether interviewing world leaders, helping shape national policy, or building relationships with donors and community partners, she is known for leading with empathy, bringing people together, and inspiring meaningful change.
A proud graduate of TMU’s The Creative School, Marci has dedicated her career to public service, education, and community building. She is also the author of Off Script: Living Out Loud and one of Canada’s most sought-after keynote speakers, inspiring audiences with powerful lessons on courageous leadership, resilience, belonging, and the transformative power of human connection.
John H. McCall MacBain, O.C., is a distinguished entrepreneur and philanthropic leader. Raised in Niagara Falls, Ont., he studied economics at McGill University, earned a law degree at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, and completed an MBA at Harvard Business School. He went on to build Trader Classified Media into a global enterprise operating in 23 countries before its sale in 2006.
In 2007, John co-founded the McCall MacBain Foundation with his wife, Marcy McCall MacBain, through which he has helped advance major philanthropic initiatives in education, leadership development, climate and environment, and health. His support for scholarship and leadership programs in Canada and internationally has opened doors for promising students and emerging leaders. He has also served in influential governance roles with organizations including the Rhodes Trust, the Mandela Rhodes Foundation, the European Climate Foundation, and McGill University.
Marcy McCall MacBain is an accomplished health professional, scholar and philanthropic leader. Originally from Huron County, Ont., she studied kinesiology at McMaster University and international health policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science before completing a DPhil in evidence-based health care at the University of Oxford.
Marcy’s academic areas of interest include the effective management and prevention of chronic diseases, self-care, and the use of evidence to improve health outcomes and quality of life. She has held various roles at the University of Oxford’s Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, and Kellogg College, and has consulted to the World Health Organization. In 2007, Marcy co-founded the McCall MacBain Foundation with her husband, John, shaping a global philanthropic vision centred on education and scholarships, climate and environment, and health. Her leadership has supported transformative investments in students and young leaders, as well as the launch of the McCall MacBain Kinesiology & Healthspan Institute at McMaster University.
Edward S. Rogers is executive chair of Rogers Communications Inc. He is chair of the finance, nominating and executive committees of the board, as well as chair of Rogers Bank, the Toronto Blue Jays, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment and Constantine Enterprises. Edward led the merger between Shaw and Rogers – the largest telecommunications merger in Canadian history to date – the acquisition of 100 per cent of MLSE and the launch of Rogers Sports. Today, he serves as a governor of MLB (Toronto Blue Jays) and the NHL (Toronto Maple Leafs).
Edward served in operating capacities at Rogers for over 20 years, including as president and CEO of Rogers Cable Inc. from 2003 to 2009. He served on the Economic Council of Canada from 2010-13. He was named a Canadian Chamber of Commerce's Business Leader of the Year in 2025 and was named to the Order of Ontario in 2026. He served on the SickKids Foundation board from 2006-20, is honorary co-chair of Scarborough Health Network's "Love, Scarborough" campaign and holds both the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and King Charles III Coronation Medal.
Suzanne Rogers is a dedicated supporter of Canada’s fashion industry and a champion for young people. In 2016, after decades of committed support for causes in the arts sector, Suzanne launched The Suzanne Rogers Fashion Institute (SRFI) at TMU, which educates, supports, promotes and advocates for the next generation of Canadian design talent.
Deeply passionate about children’s welfare in Canada and beyond, through Suzanne Rogers Presents, Suzanne collaborates with industry names including Oscar de la Renta, Victoria Beckham, Diane von Furstenberg and LoveShackFancy to raise funds for underprivileged children. To date, The Edward and Suzanne Rogers Foundation has raised nearly $4.5 million to combat child poverty. In the fall of 2024, noting Suzanne’s roots to Elliot Lake where she was born following her parents' relocation from Budapest, Hungary, Suzanne and her husband Edward gave a $3 million donation to the city of Elliot Lake to restore the Centennial Arena.
Suzanne serves on the board of directors for the Jays Care Foundation. She has contributed leadership to initiatives including the LOOK Gala, Covenant House’s "Just Like a Girl You Know" campaign, the Butterfly Ball, the Governor General Performing Arts Awards, SickKids Foundation’s "Scrubs in the City", and Sinai Health Foundation "Cause for a Pause" campaign.
