Governor General's Gold Medal
Graduating this June 2025:
Before convocation
After you receive your senate letter confirming your graduation by email, you can confirm your attendance and rent your regalia. Confirm your attendance by Sunday, June 8.
Undergraduate students - Step 3 | Graduate students - Step 4
Convocation day
Upon arrival
Step 1. Parchment pick-up (AQ 3000 Northeast corner)
Student ID or a valid government-issued picture ID is required to pick up your parchment.
Step 2. Regalia pick up (AQ 3000 Northeast corner)
A free coat check is available for graduands.
Step 3. Get hood pinned (AQ 4000 North; by the Reflection Pond)
Assistance can be provided or watch the video and pin your hood yourself.
If you are a doctoral graduate:
- Carry your hood. You will be hooded during the ceremony.
Ceremony instructions
Step 4. Line up for the Academic Procession (AQ 4000 North; by the Reflection Pond)
- Check your Dean's Card (attached to the back of your parchment) for the number in the top right corner. Line up in chronological order with the other graduands.
- You should be the 1st person in your degree group.
- Once in Convocation Mall, you will be seated amongst the other graduands.
Step 5. During the ceremony
- Please see order of program below to see when your medal will be presented.
- Ceremony staff will cue you to line up to cross the stage.
- Your name will be announced.
If you are a doctoral graduate:
- Proceed to the black footprints marked on the carpet and face the audience.
- Remove your bonnet and get hooded by your supervisor or faculty dean. Shake hands with your supervisor or faculty dean.
- Proceed to the Chancellor.
- Your medal will be presented to you.
- Shake hands with the Chancellor and pose for a quick photo.
- Continue across the stage and take a seat on the stage in the row behind the faculty.
If you are a masters graduate:
- Proceed to the Chancellor.
- Your medal will be presented to you.
- Shake hands with the Chancellor and pose for a quick photo.
- Exit the stage and return to the graduate seating area.
Step 6. After the ceremony
- Follow the academic recession to exit Convocation Mall.
- Return your regalia to AQ (AQ 3000 Northeast corner).
- Attend your faculty celebration.
- Celebrate!!
Graduated in June/October 2024:
Before convocation
Reserve your regalia directly from Gaspard.
Convocation day
Upon arrival
**Bring your parchment cover with you**
Step 1. Dean's card pick-up (Special Services Desk - AQ 30000 Northeast corner)
Student ID or valid government-issued picture ID is required to pick up your Dean's Card.
Step 2. Regalia Pick up (AQ 3000 Northest Corner)
A free coat check is available for graduands.
Step 3. Get hood pinned (AQ 4000 North; by the Reflection Pond)
Assistance can be provided or watch the video and pin your hood yourself.
If you are a doctoral graduate:
- Graduate Studies will assist with pinning your hood.
Ceremony instructions
Step 4. Line up for the Academic Procession (AQ 4000 North by the Reflection Pond)
- Check your Dean's Card for the number in the top right corner. Line up in chronological order with the other graduands.
- You should be the 1st person in your degree group.
- Once in Convocation Mall, you will be seated amongst the other graduands.
Step 5. During the ceremony
- Please see order of program below to see when your medal will be presented.
- Ceremony staff will cue you to line up to cross the stage.
- Your name will be announced.
- Proceed to the Chancellor.
- Your medal will be presented to you.
- Shake hands with the Chancellor and pose for a quick photo.
- Continue across the stage and take a seat on the stage in the row behind the faculty.
If you are a masters graduate:
- Exit the stage and return to the graduate seating area.
Step 6. After the ceremony
- Follow the academic recession to exit Convocation Mall.
- Return your regalia to AQ (AQ 3000 Northeast corner).
- Attend your faculty celebration.
- Celebrate!!
Order of program
- Academic procession to Convocation Mall led by SFU Pipers
- Host nation cultural representatives
- Host nation ceremonial welcome, Elder (Ceremony A, C, F, I)
- O Canada
- Chancellor’s welcome
- President’s greetings
- Student speaker address
- Presentation of honorary degree recipient & convocation address (Ceremony C, E, F, G, H, I)
- Alumni greeting
- Chancellor and president, recognition of graduands and their degrees, diplomas and certificates
- Conferring of degrees, diplomas and certificates
Includes presentation of Graduate and Undergraduate Dean's Convocation Medals, Governor General's Gold Medal, Governor General's Silver Medals, Lieutenant Governor's Medal for Inclusion, Democracy and Reconciliation, and Gordan M. Shrum Undergraduate Medal - June ceremonies only
- Chancellor and president’s concluding remarks
- Piper leads recession
- Faculty celebration reception(s)
Questions?
If you have any additional questions, please contact William Chan-Gill, Manager, Ceremonies and Events, at william_gill@sfu.ca.