Tyndale Honours Dr. Pierre Allard and Dr. John Wilkinson at Graduation Ceremonies
On May 12, 2012 Tyndale University College and Seminary will confer honorary doctorates on Dr. Pierre Allard and Dr. John Wilkinson. “Dr. Allard and Dr. Wilkinson represent the best of what we hope for in our graduates,” said Dr. Gary Nelson, President of Tyndale University College and Seminary.
Dr. Allard will be honoured during Tyndale Seminary’s graduation ceremony and Dr. Wilkinson will be honoured at the Tyndale University College graduation ceremony.
Dr. Allard and Dr. Wilkinson have both made significant contributions to bettering the lives of two distinct segments of our society. Dr. Allard has focused much of his work on supporting people in correctional facilities and is a pioneer in the restorative justice movement. Dr. Wilkinson has spent a career helping young people develop into dynamic leaders of our society. “Both Pierre and John represent a robust faithfulness that is willing to meaningfully engage people and have seen the possibilities of bringing hope to the places God has called them to serve,” said Dr. Nelson
A former Assistant Commissioner and Prison Chaplain, Dr. Pierre Allard retired in 2006 from the Correctional Service of Canada, and is now President of Just.Equipping, a charitable organization committed to promoting restorative justice and to equipping prison chaplains worldwide, with a particular emphasis on the Great Lakes region of Africa.
Dr. Allard has been the recipient of numerous awards in recognition of his work. Among his many awards, he has received: The first Head of the Public Service Award, 1998; both the Achievement Award and the Good Samaritan Award at the Canadian Criminal Justice Association (CCJA) congress in Halifax, 2001 and the Meritorious Service Medal (M.S.M.) presented by the Governor General, 2002. In 2006, the Government of Canada created the ‘Pierre Allard Award’ given to a reformed federal offender.
Dr. John Wilkinson has spent a life-time focusing on helping young people, from all walks of life, to develop to their full potential. For the past 12 years he has been the Executive Director of Youth Unlimited, a faith-based youth serving agency with 55 staff and 700 volunteers who regularly work with more than 2000 youth throughout the Greater Toronto Area most of whom live in at-risk neighbourhoods.
During the 1970s, Dr. Wilkinson helped to found two significant youth camps: Keswick Youth Camp and Muskoka Woods and was President of Christian Camping International (Canada). Dr. Wilkinson also served at Tyndale University College & Seminary for 25 years in various positions. During that time he founded youth ministry programs and served in the roles of Vice-President of Strategic Planning and that of Vice-President and Academic Dean of the College.
Tyndale is a Christian university college and seminary that prepares leaders for work in the private, public, and not-for-profit sector, ministry, and the global mission of the Church. Tyndale offers fully accredited programs in a wide range of disciplines at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Undergraduate students may study towards a BEd, BA, and BRE degree or a certificate in Christian Studies. Graduate-level education includes a doctor of ministry degree; master's degrees in divinity, theological studies or theology; and a graduate diploma in Christian Studies, Missions or Spiritual Formation. Currently, there are almost 1,300 students representing over 40 denominations and 60 ethnic backgrounds and 9,500 alumni. Founded in 1894, Tyndale is strategically positioned in Toronto.