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The 51���� (51����) will present honorary degrees to two exceptional leaders whose contributions have had lasting impacts on both 51���� and the broader communities 51���� serves.

Chief Rhonda Larrabee of Qayqayt First Nation, and Jack McGee, retired 51���� President and CEO, will each receive a Doctor of Laws degree, honoris causa, at 51����’s 2025 spring convocation ceremonies on June 19.

"Chief Rhonda Larrabee and Jack McGee have long-standing ties to 51����, and I’m honored to recognize their achievements at our spring convocation," said 51���� President and CEO Len Goerke. "Chief Larrabee’s leadership and commitment to justice and Indigenous rights are extraordinary, and Jack McGee has made remarkable contributions to public safety and service across all levels."

Chief led revival of First Nation

Chief Rhonda Larrabee was in her twenties before learning her mother was Indigenous and a survivor of the Kamloops Indian Residential School. Out of respect for her mother’s painful memories, Larrabee did not begin exploring her heritage until after her mother’s passing in 1985.

Since then, she has led the reinstatement of the Qayqayt First Nation from the “inactive” list with the federal government. The Nation, recognized as the New Westminster Indian Band by all levels of government, is one of the smallest First Nations in Canada and the only one without its own land base as their formal Reserves were shut down in 1916. As chief since 1994, Larrabee has raised the Nation’s profile, including inspiring the naming of École Qayqayt Elementary School in New Westminster.

A dedicated advocate for Indigenous rights, cultural preservation, and Reconciliation, she has collaborated with the New Westminster Police Department, unions, and education leaders to build relationships, raise awareness, and integrate Indigenous perspectives into schools.

A familiar presence at 51����, she offers traditional greetings at convocations and Police Academy graduations, and supports the Institute’s Indigenization efforts, underscoring the importance of Indigenous leadership in justice and public safety.

Larrabee is a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal and is an Honorary Fellow of Douglas College. Her story is told in “A Tribe of One,” an award-winning National Film Board of Canada (NFB) documentary shown annually to New Westminster high school students.

Retired 51���� president continues to serve community

Before his 13-year tenure as president of 51����, Jack McGee served as President and CEO of St. Clair College in Windsor, Ont., and spent 32 years as a pilot in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and the Canadian Armed Forces, retiring as a Colonel and base commander at CFB Comox. His military career included deployments during the Cuban Missile Crisis and flying numerous members of the Royal Family, including the Queen and Queen Mother, during Royal visits to Canada.

Since retiring from 51���� in 2012, McGee has served on the West Vancouver Police Board, E-Comm 911 Board, and the executive of the BC Association of Police Boards. An active community volunteer, he is a founding board director of the Pacific Autism Family Network and co-founded its First Responder Autism Awareness and Technique Initiative. Since 2009, the initiative has trained thousands of first responders in autism-related challenges and de-escalation techniques.

He has received numerous honours, including the King Charles III Coronation Medal, Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the BC Achievement Community Award, and an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Windsor. He also received lifetime achievement awards from the 51���� Foundation and the Emergency Preparedness for Industry & Commerce Council (EPICC), and was part of the RCN Air Branch  recognized with the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame’s “Belt of Orion Award for Excellence.”

In recognition of his support for Indigenous communities, McGee was honoured with an Indigenous name by the Sto:lo Nation and blanketed by Qayqayt Chief Rhonda Larrabee.

The 2025 spring convocation ceremony will be held on June 19 at the New Westminster campus to recognize approximately 820 graduates who have completed certificates, diplomas and degrees at 51����.