Ned Goodman wrapped up his eight-year term as Chancellor at Brock University Saturday by inspiring Fall Convocation graduates to question everything, have an ethical mind and work hard.

The University granted the degree in recognition of Goodman’s distinguished achievements as a preeminent business and investment counselor, and for his ongoing philanthropic support of multiple institutions and causes.

The successful international businessman served as Brock’s seventh Chancellor since October 2007. He stepped aside to make way for his successor, aboriginal Canadian actress and filmmaker Shirley Cheechoo, who was installed Saturday morning.

In his speech, Goodman called on graduates to “stick to the values you want and the values you can have.”

“An ethical mind helps individuals aspire to do good work – good work that matters to their colleagues, their organization, their company, their family and the global society in general,” he said. “In our very busy society it is often easy to lose our way on that subject.”

He called on the graduates to stand firm for what they believe in and to do what’s right.

“Our world today hangs often on right or wrong, bad or good, success or disaster,” he said. “Your happiness is much more important than accepting open injustices and bad ethical behaviours by others. Always be prepared to speak your mind.”

Goodman’s legacy at Brock consists of much more than having bestowed hundreds of degrees on beaming graduates during years of Convocation ceremonies. In 2013, Brock’s business faculty was renamed the Goodman School of Business in recognition of a transformational gift made to the University by the Goodman Foundation. The generous donation provided key capital for an ambitious $22-million expansion and reconstruction of the Goodman School facility, to take place over the next two years. Because of Goodman’s commitment, the Ontario government has also pledged $10-million to the project.

University President and Vice-Chancellor Jack Lightstone said Goodman’s time as Chancellor has left major positive imprints that will benefit generations of Brock students.

“Ned Goodman has brought personal warmth and wisdom ?to the graduation ceremonies for tens of thousands of graduates,” said Lightstone. “He is a stalwart supporter and champion for the business school that bears the Goodman name, and he is never more happy and spirited at Brock than when engaging students in dialogue and debate about business and economic trends.”

During a career that has spanned more than 40 years, Goodman applied his geological training and business acumen to help build several successful mining companies — notably International Corona and Kinross Gold — and nurtured many other mineral producing companies through astute and timely investments.

In addition to being an outstanding member of the philanthropic community, Montreal-born Goodman is considered one of the leading architects of Canada’s investment management industry. His impact as a securities analyst and portfolio manager has helped shape Canada’s investment management industry. As founder and CEO of Dundee Corporation and Dundee Wealth, and as chairman of Goodman and Company he shaped an impressive offering of financial services and investments.

He has also founded the Goodman Institute of Investment Management at Concordia University in Montreal, where he serves as an adjunct professor and a member of the Associates of the Chancellor.

Goodman contributes widely to community-building as chairman emeritus of the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews, a governor of Junior Achievement of Canada, a vice-chair of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario and a member of the Toronto Society of Financial Analysts and the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. He is a founding director of the Roasters Foundation, the Goodman Family Foundation and the Dynamic Fund Foundation.

In 2012 he was inducted into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame and in October 2012 the Frazier Institute awarded him the T. Patrick Boyle Founder’s Award, given by the Fraser Institute to a distinguished individual who has achieved lasting and recognized accomplishments in the promotion of freedom and free markets, entrepreneurship, and philanthropic support for private sector, non-profit enterprises.

Goodman completed his own undergraduate studies in science at McGill University, and his graduate studies in Business Administration at the University of Toronto. He achieved a Chartered Financial Analyst from the University of Virginia in 1967. A doctorate of laws, honoris causa, was conferred upon him by Concordia University in 1997.