BRAMPTON, CANADA — In a historic milestone spanning two centuries of civic recognition, distinguished members of the Canadian Parliament, the Mayor of Brampton, Member Parliament of Canada and Regional and City Councilors were conferred with Honorary Doctorate Degrees for their exceptional political and social contributions. These prestigious degrees were issued by Royal American University during a two-session inaugural convocation held in Brampton, Ontario, on December 8 and 9, 2019. The fundamental purpose of these awards is to promote literacy, social justice, community development, and international peace. By honoring exemplary leaders without discrimination of color, creed, or background, the ceremonies serve as a vital platform for highlighting impactful global contributions to humanity and bringing together public servants dedicated to societal progress.

The historic two-day event was divided into two distinct sessions. The first session was dedicated to the conferral of Honorary Doctorate Degrees and was presided over by His Excellency Dr. Patrick Brown, Mayor of Brampton, Canada. The second session focused on the presentation of Honorary Certificates, Community Service Awards, Gold Medals, and a cultural celebration, Jashn-e-Baharaan, which was presided over by renowned international scholars and community leaders. The ceremonies were attended by an esteemed delegation of academics, dignitaries, and cultural icons. Chief guests of the programs included Dr. Tony J., the chancellor of Royal American University and the Partner President of USAGATES.ORG a gateway to the American Universities, alongside Dr. Divender Ladher, a prominent Ph.D. educationist and community member from Brampton, and Dr. Kamal Khera, Member of Parliament for Canada. They were joined by Professor Gulnaar Afreen, who served as the Honorary Program President, Senior Poet Professor Rehman Khawe, and Mr. Jawaid Danish, the Artistic Director at Rangmanch, Canada. The events were further elevated by the presence of honorary guests Professor Preet Gill, Professor Saira Aujala, a film producer, radio-TV host, and businesswoman from Vancouver, and Professor Manjit Indra.

The convocation commenced with a historic exchange of honors, inaugurated by the Honorable Mayor Patrick Brown of Brampton. The very first Honorary Doctorate Degree was presented to Mayor Patrick Brown himself by the distinguished academic and community leader Dr. Tony J., the chancellor of Royal American University and the Partner President of USAGATES.ORG a gateway to the American Universities. Following his induction, Mayor Patrick Brown presided over the official conferral of the remaining Honorary Doctorates. These degrees were presented to Dr. Tony J. and Dr. Shahina Kishwer, the Chairperson of the Kishwer and Tony Peace Foundation Canada. Degrees were then awarded to Canadian Parliamentarian Members Dr. Kamal Khera MP, Dr. Sonia Sidhu MP, and Dr. Iqra Khalid MP. Regional and City Councilors of Brampton, Dr. Harkirat Singh and Dr. Gurpreet Singh Dhillon, were also honored, alongside Dr. Khalid Pervaiz Sulehri, the President of International Human Rights Observers and a United Nations member. Additionally, Community Service Awards and Gold Medals were presented to outstanding regional leaders, including Brampton City Councilor Mr. Michael Pallechi, for their steadfast dedication to public service. This landmark ceremony bridges the gap between academia and public service, setting a new precedent for how the contributions of political leaders, social advocates, and academics are recognized on the global stage.