JUNO-award-winning singer, Jully Black, receives honorary degree from Laurier
Posted Jun 21, 2026 10:18:50 AM.
Last Updated Jun 22, 2026 10:37:10 AM.
Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU) presented multiple JUNO-award-winning R&B singer Jully Black with an honorary Doctor of Music degree during spring convocation at Lazaridis Hall on Friday, June 19.
“I’m still pinching myself that this June 19, on Juneteenth, I will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Music from the prestigious Wilfrid Laurier University,” said Black in an Instagram post. “It’s moments like this that remind me… the race is not for the swift, but for those who endure.”
A WLU news release said Black’s career, which has spanned over 30 years, is significant, with achievements from platinum-selling songs to earning a JUNO this year. She is also an inductee into Canada’s Walk of Fame and recognized by CBC Music as one of the 25 Greatest Canadian Singers Ever.
“A passionate advocate for the Black community, human rights, Indigenous rights, immigrant rights and civil rights, she uses her platform to drive meaningful change,” reads a WLU news release.
Black is also responsible for founding The Power of Step, an initiative focused on strength, empowerment, and improved health outcomes. She also co-founded the Jully Black Family Foundation, which supports women aged 17 to 35 in Ontario through scholarships, bursaries, and mentorship opportunities.
“The greatest honour of my life is not an award. It’s knowing that something I created helped another human being believe in themselves,” said Black during her convocation address to graduates.
Watch some of the ceremony highlights below:
Black in one of six others receiving honorary Doctorate degrees from WLU this year, including Sir George Herbert Beardshaw, Dan Shulman, Ningwakwe Priscilla George, Diane J. Brisebois and Dan Dawson.
