Honorary degrees
Honorary degrees recognize persons who have made an outstanding intellectual and/or scholarly contribution in their chosen field of academic eminence; have provided outstanding service and/or contributions to public service; have made major contributions in areas relevant to the mission of the university; and/or have contributed to Durham Region/Northumberland County.
Honorary Degree Recipients
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Class of 2022 Honorary Degrees
The university will proudly present honorary Doctor of Laws degrees to the following individuals:
Mr. Jeffrey Boyce and Mrs. Julia Boyce, President of Evsam Holdings and Philanthropist, for their strong commitment to volunteerism and philanthropic contributions to the communities of Durham Region, for their championing of education, of young women pursuing education and young women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), and for their steadfast ambassadorship of Ontario Tech University.
Dr. Naheed Dosani, Palliative Care Physician and Ontario Tech class of 2008 alum, for his relentless advocacy for health and human rights, his trailblazing achievements in delivering community-based hospice palliative care to society’s most vulnerable individuals regardless of their housing status or factors such as poverty, mental health or substance addiction and his ongoing commitment to humanitarian efforts.
Mr. Christian Lassonde, Founder and Managing Partner, Impression Ventures and Director, Lassonde Family Foundation, for his outstanding work as a business leader and entrepreneur, his dedication as a mentor for the next generation of professionals, and his commitment and support to education and health care through philanthropy and volunteer activities.
Ms. Rania Llewellyn, President and Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors of the Laurentian Bank of Canada, for her significant business successes, her leadership in driving growth and change, and for promoting diversity in the workplace, and her continuing commitment to supporting new Canadian immigrants.
Mr. John Tavares*, Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, for his outstanding work as a Canadian athlete, his dedication as a role model to aspiring young athletes, and for inspiring the next generation to build a better world for themselves and their generation.
*To be conferred in Fall 2022.Ms. Phyllis Webstad, Founder and Executive Director of the Orange Shirt Society and Author of Phyllis’s Orange Shirt, for her profound storytelling and raising awareness about the residential school system, her advocacy for Indigenous Peoples, and her commitment to providing Indigenous Peoples with a platform to having their voices heard.
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Class of 2021 Honorary Degrees
Mr. Andreas Apostolopoulos
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Faculty of Business and ITDr. Mohamed Lachemi
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Faculty of Engineering and Applied ScienceThe Right Honourable Brian Mulroney and Mrs. Mila Mulroney
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science and Faculty of ScienceMr. Paul Ralph
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Faculty of Health SciencesMs. Tanya Talaga
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Faculty of Social Science and HumanitiesMs. Noreen Taylor
Doctors of Laws, honoris causa
Faculty of Education -
Class of 2020 Honorary Degrees
The Right Honourable David Johnston and Mrs. Sharon Johnston
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Class of 2020, all facultiesNote: degrees awarded in June 2021 during the Class of 2020 virtual convocation ceremony.
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Class of 2019 Honorary Degrees
Ms. Kate Beirness
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Faculty of Business and IT and Faculty of ScienceMr. Al Libeld
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science and Faculty of Engineering and Applied ScienceThe Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Faculty of Education and Faculty of Social Science and HumanitiesMs. Annette Verschuren
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Faculty of Health Sciences -
Class of 2018 Honorary Degrees
The Honourable Frank Iacobucci
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Faculty of Health SciencesMr. Craig Kielburger & Mr. Marc Kielbruger
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Faculty of Education and Faculty of Social Science and HumanitiesDr. Maria Klawe
Doctor of Science, honoris causa
Faculty of Business and Information Technology and Faculty of ScienceMr. Kenneth Knox
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science and Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science -
Class of 2017 Honorary Degrees
The Honourable Sarabjit (Sabi) Marwah
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Faculty of Business and Information Technology and Faculty of ScienceMs. Shirlee Sharkey
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Faculty of Education and Faculty of Health SciencesMs. Jeanette Southwood
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science and Faculty of Engineering and Applied ScienceElder Shirley Williams
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Faculty of Social Science and Humanities -
Class of 2016 Honorary Degrees
The Honourable Perrin Beatty
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science and Faculty of Engineering and Applied ScienceMr. Robert Houle
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Faculty of Social Science and HumanitiesMs. Kathryn (Kate) Lines
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Faculty of Business and Information Technology and Faculty of ScienceMr. Neil Pasricha
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Faculty of Education and Faculty of Health Sciences -
Class of 2015 Honorary Degrees
Mr. Grantley Morris
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Faculty of Social Science and HumanitiesDr. Jean Moss
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Faculty of Education and Faculty of Health SciencesMr. Desmond Newman
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Faculty of Business and Information Technology and Faculty of ScienceMrs. Helen Vari
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science and Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science -
Class of 2014 Honorary Degrees
Mr. Robert Deluce
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Mr. Gary Edgar
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Ms. Mary Haddad
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Dr. Ilse Treurnicht
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
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Class of 2013 Honorary Degrees
Dr. Clement Bowman
Doctor of Science, honoris causa
Mr. Garry Cubitt
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Ms. Elizabeth Dowdeswell
Doctor of Science, honoris causa
Mr. Peter Mackinnon
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Mr. Andre Picard
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Mr. Robert Strickert
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Mr. Lorne Trottier
Doctor of Science, honoris causa
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Class of 2012 Honorary Degrees
Mrs. Laura Formusa
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Mr. Tom Mitchell
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Mr. Ken Shaw
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
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Class of 2011 Honorary Degrees
Dr. Edward Broadbent
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Mr. Daniel Carter
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Dr. Doris Grinspun
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
- Class of 2010 Honorary Degrees
- Class of 2009 Honorary Degrees
- Class of 2008 Honorary Degrees
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Class of 2007 Honorary Degrees
Mr. Robert Baun
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Mr. James O'Donnell
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa
Dr. David Sanborn Scott
Doctor of Science, honoris causa