Bussey, Trim and Hayde Serve as Convocation Speakers

Five of the six English majors graduating this year have been accepted to
graduate programs in the United Kingdom.  

Canadian University College is pleased it will grant degrees to 111 students at Commencement Service, Sunday, April 27, in the College Heights Seventh-day Adventist Church.  Because of the large number of graduates and limited seating, tickets are required for admission.  All of the weekend's major services can be watched live online.  The printed program for the weekend can be viewed here.

This year's Commencement speaker will be Karen Hayde who is a chaplain for British Columbia Corrections at an all-male facility in Nanaimo. Prior to her graduating from Canadian University College in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Religious Studies (Pre-professional), Karen studied electrical engineering, developed and operated a non-profit organization empowering youth and communities in Northwestern Ontario, coordinated and developed youth conferences and workshops for community groups, and created and implemented social education programs for schools and communities.

For three years Karen was the voice and researcher for Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Radio One’s Black History Month daily radio spots. She also co-authored a children’s ministry training manual. Karen competed internationally as a member of the national Judo team for 11 years and had the privilege of winning a silver medal for Canada at the 1990 Commonwealth Games before retiring in 1996.

Karen studied Chaplaincy at St. Paul’s University in Ottawa and worked as a hospital chaplain before moving to British Columbia in 2008. In her spare time, she enjoys playing her guitar, snowshoeing, bungee jumping, travel, and laughter with friends and family.

Another graduate of Canadian University College, Barry W. Bussey, will be the speaker for Friday evening's Consecretion Service.  After receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in in Theology from Canadian Union (University) College in 1987, Mr. Bussey served as the pastor of two churches in Newfoundland. 

In 1992 Mr. Bussey graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Western Ontario (London, Ontario). He practiced law for four years in Newfoundland before taking the position of Trust Services and Public Affairs and Religious Liberty (PARL) Director at the Ontario Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

In November 2000, Barry was nominated as a candidate for the Canadian Alliance Party and ran in the federal election for the City of Oshawa, Ontario riding. From 2003-2008, he was the General Counsel/Public Affairs Director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada. In May 2002, he was awarded a Master of Arts degree in Political Science from Memorial University of Newfoundland (St. John’s, Newfoundland). Four years later, after studies at Osgoode Hall Law School, Barry was awarded a Master of Laws degree in Constitutional Law from York University (Toronto, Ontario). Currently, Barry is completing a master’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Waterloo (Waterloo, Ontario). 

Mr. Bussey has worked in Washington, D.C., New York City and Geneva as the representative of the International Religious Liberty Association at the United States Congress and the United 
Nations. Since July 2011, Barry has served the Canadian Council of Christian Charities as 
Vice President Legal Affairs.

Barry and his wife, LaVonna (nee Corkum), have three children: Carmelle (Michael), Adam, and Seth (Cara) as well as one grandchild, Arianne.

Speaking for the Baccalaureate Service, Sabbath, April 26, will be Dr. David Trim, Director of Archives, Statistics, and Research at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Dr. Trim was born in Bombay, India, to missionary parents; raised in Sydney, Australia; and went to England for his college education.

Dr. Trim earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in History from Newbold College and a Doctor of Philosophy degree specializing in History and War Studies from the University of London. His experience includes ten years on the faculty at Newbold College teaching history and religion, and two years at Pacific Union College in California where he held the Walter C. Utt Chair of History. He was called to the Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters in October 2010. A Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, he has published nine books and many scholarly papers. He is married to Wendy, a native of California; they 
have one daughter, Genevieve.