Respect for Raffi: ‘Baby Beluga’ singer to get honorary degree at Laurier

<p>WATERLOO, Ont. – From “Willoughby Wallaby Woo,” to honoured guest at Laurier U.</p> <p>Children’s entertainer and activist Raffi is set to receive an honorary degree next month from Wilfrid Laurier University.</p> <p>The beloved “Baby Beluga” singer-songwriter and eight others, including retired general Romeo Dallaire, will receive the accolade at a series of convocation ceremonies.</p> <p>Other recipients include Free the Children founders Craig and Marc Kielburger, and former Canadian Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour.</p> <p>Laurier will hold nine convocation ceremonies in Waterloo, Ont., the week of June 6-10, and three ceremonies at the Brantford, Ont., campus June 21-22.</p> <p>Raffi, as he’s known in his music career, will receive his honorary degree June 6 on the Waterloo campus.</p> <p>The 62-year-old, whose full name is Raffi Cavoukian, lives in Salt Spring Island, B.C., and has sold more than 15 million albums in Canada and the U.S.</p> <p>He’s also a member of the Order of Canada and the Order of British Columbia, and is the founder of the non-profit Centre for Child Honouring.</p>