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Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships
Ryerson Honorary Doctorates and Fellowships
Ryerson Fellowships were awarded from 1979 to 1995 to the individuals named below for outstanding work in the fields indicated.
Ryerson University began awarding Honorary Doctoral Degrees (Honoris Causa) in 1996.
Ryerson awards its highest honour to those who have made extraordinary contributions:
- to academia and/or society in Canada, or internationally, particularly in fields of interest to Ryerson; or
- to the development of the University; or to the betterment of culture, or society, or the local community.
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| Abell, Helen C. | 1983 | International Development |
| Alcock, Norman Z. | 1990 | Pioneering Peace Research in Canada |
| Anderson, Doris H. |
1987 | Canadian Magazine Development |
| Anderson, James M. |
1994 | Outstanding Achievements in the Field of Advertising in Canada |
| Arpin, Kathleen |
1995 | Leadership in Canadian Nursing Education |
| Balakrishnan, R. | 1988 | International Broadcasting |
| Barnes, John | 1984 | Development of Broadcasting in Canada |
| Barr, Laura W. | 1989 | The Visionary Leadership of the Nursing Profession |
| Beck, Nuala | 1995 | Original Contribution to Canadian Business Analysis |
| Begin, Hon. Monique | 1992 | Public Policy in the Canadian Health Field |
| Berger, Thomas R. | 1986 | Support of the North’s Indigenous Populations |
| Bertell, Rosalie | 1988 | Environmental Health |
| Besse, Ronald D. | 1982 | Business Development |
| Bondar, Dr. Roberta Lynn | 1990 | Encouragement of Space Research in Canada |
| Brickenden, George Fred | 1979 | International Broadcast Training |
| Brown, Margaret Eileen | 1986 | Personnel Administration |
| Brown, Rosemary | 1990 | Enlarging the Political Process for Women and Minorities |
| Bulloch. John F. | 1981 | Small Business Development |
| Bullock, James R. | 1991 | Business Development and Management in Canada |
| Callwood, June | 1990 | Journalism with a Social Conscience |
| Camp, Dalton K. | 1981 | Journalism |
| Campbell, Norman | 1994 | Enthusiastic Celebration and Preservation of Canada’s Heritage in Dance and Opera |
| Cardinal, Douglas J. | 1990 | Creative Development of a Humane Built Environment |
| Carr, Shirley G. E. | 1987 | Canadian and International Labour Movements |
| Catley-Carlson, Margaret Y. | 1986 | International Development |
| Chien Wei Chang | 1987 | Higher Education and International Relations |
| Chisholm, Donald A. | 1983 | Development of Technology in Canada |
| Clarke, Larry D. |
1994 | Outstanding Contributions to the Aerospace Industry in Canada |
| Cohen, Dian | 1979 | Public Education in Economic Affairs |
| Cooper, Simon F. | 1995 | Exemplary Leadership in the Canadian Hospitality and Tourism Industry |
| Crombie, David | 1990 | Public Life in Canada |
| Dallaire, L.Gen (Ret'd) Hon. Romeo | 1995 | Exceptional Professionalism, Leadership and Altruism in Perilous Circumstances |
| Davis, Julie | 1995 | Leadership in Shaping the Contemporary Labour Movement in Canada |
| De Roo, Remi J. | 1987 | Dedicated Community Service |
| Dickason, Olive Patricia | 1994 | Outstanding Contributions as a Journalist, Scholar, and Community Leader |
| Drabinsky, Garth Howard | 1987 | The Entertainment Industry |
| Ellis, Rev. A. N. | 1982 | Dedicated Community Service |
| Fairweather, Gordon | 1993 | Leadership in the Advancement of Human Rights |
| Fletcher, M. I. | 1979 | Early Childhood Education |
| Flood, A. L. | 1995 | Contribution to Higher and Continuing Education |
| Fodor, Nicholas J. | 1984 | Canadian Industrial Development |
| Frankel, Ruth Hartman | 1985 | Voluntary Public Service |
| Franklin, Ursula M. | 1984 | Elucidating Social Impact of Technology |
| Franssen, Margot | 1990 | Successfully Combining Environmental and Business Objectives |
| Frize, Monique | 1993 | Leadership in the Advancement of Women in Engineering |
| Fulton, Ethel Margaret | 1980 | Education |
| Graham, H. F. Colin | 1985 | Development of Post-Secondary Education in Ontario |
| Green, Donald | 1979 | Industrial Development |
| Guindon, Roger | 1985 | Development of Post-Secondary and Bilingual Education in Ontario |
| Hall, C. Denis | 1988 | Telecommunication Technology and Managing Research and Development |
| Harris, Robin S. | 1987 | Higher Education |
| Harron, Donald | 1980 | Creative and Performing Arts |
| Head, Wilson | 1993 | Advancing Social Justice and Racial Equality in Canadian Society |
| Henderson, Lyman George | 1986 | The Graphics Industries and the Performing Arts |
| Herman, Nina Klowden | 1994 | Exemplary Achievements on Behalf of Seniors |
| Holmested, H. | 1981 | The Field of Aging |
| Homme, R. M. | 1982 | Children’s Television |
| Hughes, Philip B. | 1981 | Engineering Education |
| Hurlbut, John | 1989 | The Hospitality Fund |
| Inns, Gordon Ellis | 1987 | Telecommunications and Support for Higher Education |
| Jewison, Norman Frederick | 1986 | The Field of Motion Pictures |
| Kelman, Rabbi J. | 1984 | Spiritual Leadership and Community Service |
| Kenney-Wallace, Geraldine Anne | 1988 | Advancement of Science and Technology in Canada |
| Kogawa, Joy | 1991 | Enhancing our Appreciation of Multiculturalism and the Japanese-Canadian Experience |
| Kovacs, Ferenc | 1991 | Support of Engineering Education in an International Environment |
| Lapp, Philip A. | 1985 | Engineering Profession in Canada |
| Lefebvre, Jean Pierre | 1987 | Canadian Cinema |
| Lewis, Stephen | 1981 | The Development of Public Policy |
| Lodge, Lorne Kenneth | 1986 | Development of Computer Education in Canada |
| MacFarlane, John D. | 1981 | Journalism |
| MacKay, J. Stuart | 1985 | Private Broadcasting |
| MacKay-Lassonde, Claudette | 1989 | The Engineering Profession and in Founding Women in Science and Engineering |
| Marchment, Alan R. | 1992 | Financial Leadership and Corporate Philanthropy |
| Mirvish, Edward | 1982 | Cultural and Community Development |
| Moriyama, Raymond | 1980 | Technology and Humanity of Architecture |
| Moyer, Janice | 1993 | Leadership in the Canadian Information Technology Industry |
| Nelson, Fiona | 1991 | Development of Educational Services in the City of Toronto |
| Newton, Christopher | 1995 | Achievements in Enriching the Canadian Theatre |
| Norquay, Margaret | 1993 | Leadership in Distance Education |
| O’Reilly, Ted E.T. | 1983 | Broadcasting |
| Packham, James L. | 1992 | Developing Polytechnic Education at Ryerson |
| Parr, J. G. | 1980 | Educational Innovation |
| Pattison, William B. | 1988 | Hospitality and Tourism |
| Pitman, Walter George | 1985 | Developing and Applying the Values of Lifelong Learning |
| Pleva, Edward G. | 1983 | Applied Geographic Education |
| Pocock, Nancy | 1989 | Humanitarian Efforts on Behalf of Refugees |
| Porter, Anna | 1990 | Canadian Publishing |
| Pritchard, Ross E. | 1995 | Leadership in Science and Engineering Business Enterprise Development |
| Reid, William Ronald | 1985 | Presentation and Preservation of Indian Art and Culture |
| Robbie, Roderick G. | 1995 | Exemplary Achievements in Architectural Design |
| Rodger, Ginette | 1984 | Promoting Role of Nursing in Health Policy Development |
| Rumball, Donald A. | 1990 | Fostering Entrepreneurial Initiative |
| Sanderson, Marie | 1993 | Expanding the Role of Women in Geographic Research and Education |
| Scott, Donald S. | 1992 | Developing Engineering Education in Canada |
| Sedra, Prof. Adel S. | 1989 | Engineering Education |
| Sewell, John | 1989 | Enhancing the Quality of Life in Toronto |
| Sharp, Isadore | 1983 | The Hospitality Industry |
| Sharpe, C. Richard | 1988 | Retail Business Development |
| Sharpe, John L. | 1991 | Promoting Standards of Excellence in the Hospitality Industry |
| Sheinin, Rose | 1993 | Science and the Advancement of Women |
| Shepherd, John J. | 1982 | Technology and Business |
| Siegel, Bill | 1993 | Tourism Research and Marketing |
| Simms, Glenda | 1993 | Advancing Equality for Racial Minority and Aboriginal Women |
| Sinclair, G. | 1980 | Applied Science and Business |
| Smith, Stuart Lyon | 1987 | The Promotion of Science and Technology |
| Stephens, Mellanie Anne | 1987 | Entrepreneurial Development |
| Stuart, Mary Alice | 1989 | Educational and Cultural Broadcasting |
| Sung, Alfred | 1987 | Apparel Design |
| Suzuki, David T. | 1981 | Science Broadcasting |
| Swinton, K. R. | 1979 | Adult Education |
| Thomson, George Mahood | 1986 | Developing Public Policy for the Welfare of Children |
| Watters, Jessie | 1985 | Child Welfare |
| Whittaker, Herbert | 1988 | Theatre Criticism |
| Whittaker, Sheelagh D. | 1992 | Canadian Telecommunications |
| Williams, Lynn | 1984 | Leadership in International Union Movement |
| Willings, Janet H. | 1991 | Development of the Engineering Profession in Canada |
| Wintermans, Jos | 1993 | The Integration of Innovative Business Theory and Practice |
| Wright, Eric | 1992 | The Teaching and Practice of Literature at Ryerson |
| Wylie, Dorothy M. | 1982 | Promoting Excellence in Nursing Practice |
| Zhi-qian, He | 1992 | Improving Nutrition in China |
| Znaimer, Moses | 1991 | Innovative Television Programming and Delivery |
The first honorary doctorate was awarded to:
The Right Honourable Romeo LeBlanc (1996), Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa)
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| Abella, Hon. Madam Justice Rosalie Silberman | 2007 | Doctor of Laws |
| Adams, Michael | 2009 | Doctor of Letters |
| Allan, Elyse | 2005 | Doctor of Commerce |
| Alsop, William | 2010 | Doctor of Letters |
| Arbour, Hon. Louise | 2010 | Doctor of Laws |
| Astier, Hurbert | 2002 | Doctor of Laws |
| Atleo, Shawn A-in-chut | 2012 | Doctor of Laws |
| Atwood, Margaret Eleanor |
2012 | Doctor of Letters |
| Bachir, Salah | 2015 | Doctor of Laws |
| Bartleman, Hon. James Karl | 2005 | Doctor of Laws |
| Basrur, Sheela V. | 2004 | Doctor of Science |
| Belcourt, Michael | 2007 | Doctor of Commerce |
| Beliveau, Jean Arthur | 2009 | Doctor of Laws |
| Berry, Albert | 2004 | Doctor of Laws |
| Besse, Ronald D. | 2004 | Doctor of Commerce |
| Bickley, John A. | 2009 | Doctor of Science |
| Billes, Martha | 2002 | Doctor of Commerce |
| Birchall, Catharina and William | 2016 | Doctor of Laws |
| Bouchard, Micheline | 1998 | Doctor of Engineering |
| Broadbent, Alan | 2009 | Doctor of Laws |
| Broadbent, Hon. Edward | 2009 | Doctor of Laws |
| Brown, Robert E. | 2002 | Doctor of Science |
| Browne, Gina Bohn | 2009 | Doctor of Laws |
| Brzustowski, Thomas A. | 1996 | Doctor of Engineering |
| Buchanan, Hon. Judd | 1997 | Doctor of Laws |
| Burtynsky, Edward | 2007 | Doctor of Fine Arts in Photography Study |
| Busby, Peter |
2008 | Doctor of Science |
| Cameron, James | 1998 | Doctor of Laws |
| Chang, G. Raymond | 2005 | Doctor of Commerce |
| Chapman, Christopher | 2000 | Doctor of Laws |
| Clark, William Edmund "Ed" | 2015 | Doctor of Commerce |
| Clarkson, Rt. Hon. Adrienne | 2006 | Doctor of Laws |
| Cockwell, Jack | 2004 | Doctor of Commerce |
| Coffey, Charles S. | 2011 | Doctor of Laws |
| Cohen, Mitchell | 2013 | Doctor of Laws |
| Cook, Ramsay | 2007 | Doctor of Laws |
| Cunningham, Bill | 2009 | Doctor of Laws |
| D'Alessandro, Dominic | 2008 | Doctor of Commerce |
| daCosta, Ruth | 2011 | Doctor of Laws |
| Dallaire, Joanne H. | 2011 | Doctor of Laws |
| Davis, William | 2003 | Doctor of Laws |
| De Pencier, Michael | 2002 | Doctor of Letters |
| de Wilde, Lisa | 2016 | Doctor of Laws |
| Donner, Gail J. | 2007 | Doctor of Science |
| Douglas, Shirley | 2001 | Doctor of Laws |
| Dryden, Kenneth Wayne | 2013 | Doctor of Laws |
| Eaton, John Craig | 1996 | Doctor of Commerce |
| Edney, Patricia and Dennis |
2016 | Doctor of Laws |
| Enkin, Murray | 1997 | Doctor of Laws |
| Fecan, Ivan | 2001 | Doctor of Laws |
| Fontaine, Phil | 2011 | Doctor of Laws |
| Formusa, Laura | 2011 | Doctor of Laws |
| Fortier, L. Yves | 2004 | Doctor of Commerce |
| Foster, Stephen | 2000 | Doctor of Commerce |
| Francis, Diane | 2013 | Doctor of Laws |
| Franklin, Ursula | 2011 | Doctor of Laws |
| Gagliano, Anthony | 2010 | Doctor of Laws |
| Gagliano, Gaetano | 1998 | Doctor of Laws |
| Gardner, Sue | 2013 | Doctor of Laws |
| Gaunt, Bobbie | 2000 | Doctor of Laws |
| Germain, Christiane | 2012 | Doctor of Commerce |
| Gibson, Graeme | 2012 | Doctor of Letters |
| Gilgan, Peter | 2016 | Doctor of Laws |
| Godard, Mira | 2002 | Doctor of Laws |
| Godfrey, Paul | 2001 | Doctor of Engineering |
| Goering, Paula N. | 2010 | Doctor of Science |
| Golden, Anne | 1997 | Doctor of Laws |
| Goodall, Jane | 2001 | Doctor of Science |
| Goodchild, Michael F. | 2004 | Doctor of Laws |
| Granatstein, Jack | 1999 | Doctor of Laws |
| Grier, Ruth | 2000 | Doctor of Laws |
| Grier, Terence | 2000 | Doctor of Laws |
| Guerriere, Michael | 2009 | Doctor of Laws |
| Gupta, Steve | 2015 | Doctor of Laws |
| Haddad, Mary Jo | 2014 | Doctor of Laws |
| Hall, Barbara | 1998 | Doctor of Laws |
| Handling, Piers | 2006 | Doctor of Laws |
| Hargrove, Basil "Buzz" | 2006 | Doctor of Laws |
| Hariri, Siamak | 2016 | Doctor of Architecture |
| Hasenfratz, Linda | 2003 | Doctor of Engineering |
| Hebert, Hon. Jacques | 1997 | Doctor of Laws |
| Heller, George | 2002 | Doctor of Commerce |
| Hockin, Hon. Tom | 2005 | Doctor of Commerce |
| Honderich, John | 2008 | Doctor of Laws |
| Horsfall Eaton, Sally | 2012 | Doctor of Laws |
| Hull, Douglas G. | 1996 | Doctor of Science |
| Hume, Christopher | 2014 | Doctor of Laws |
| Hurtubise, Lionel | 1999 | Doctor of Engineering |
| Jamieson, Roberta | 2003 | Doctor of Laws |
| Jewison, Norman | 2008 | Doctor of Letters |
| Jha, Aditya Chandra | 2009 | Doctor of Laws |
| Jolliffe, Russell | 2000 | Doctor of Laws |
| Juneau, Pierre | 1996 | Doctor of Letters |
| Keshavjee, Shafique | 2014 | Doctor of Science |
| Kierans, Thomas E. | 2013 | Doctor of Laws |
| Kilroy, Edward | 2004 | Doctor of Commerce |
| Klawe, Maria | 2001 | Doctor of Laws |
| Klein, Bonnie Sherr | 2003 | Doctor of Laws |
| Lambert, Phyllis | 2004 | Doctor of Fine Arts in Photography Studies |
| Landsberg, Michele | 2007 | Doctor of Laws |
| Lankin, Frances | 2010 | Doctor of Laws |
| Lassonde, Pierre, CM | 2006 | Doctor of Engineering |
| Laughton, Peter | 1997 | Doctor of Engineering |
| Lean, Ralph | 2015 | Doctor of Laws |
| LeBlanc, Right Hon. Romeo |
1996 | Doctor of Letters |
| Lee, Arthur | 1998 | Doctor of Laws |
| Lee, Dennis | 2001 | Doctor of Laws |
| Levkoe, Judith | 2013 | Doctor of Laws |
| Levy, Julia | 2005 | Doctor of Science |
| Lewis, Stephen | 2007 | Doctor of Laws |
| Lundstrom, Linda | 1997 | Doctor of Laws |
| Machel, Graca | 2001 | Doctor of Laws |
| MacMillan, Margaret | 2005 | Doctor of Laws |
| MacMillan, Michael | 2011 | Doctor of Laws |
| Madni, Asad M. | 2009 | Doctor of Science |
| Magee, Christine | 2006 | Doctor of Commerce |
| Mak, Tak Wah | 2004 | Doctor of Science |
| Mandela, Nelson | 2001 | Doctor of Laws |
| Mansbridge, Peter | 2005 | Doctor of Journalism |
| Marwah, Sarabjit | 2012 | Doctor of Laws |
| Mascoll, Beverly | 1999 | Doctor of Laws |
| McAnuff, Des | 2011 | Doctor of Letters |
| McCain, Hon. Margaret Norrie | 2008 | Doctor of Laws |
| McGarry, Diane | 1996 | Doctor of Science |
| McKenna, Frank | 1999 | Doctor of Laws |
| McLachlin, Rt. Hon. Chief Justice Beverley | 2010 | Doctor of Laws |
| McMurtry, Hon. Roy, O.C., O.Ont. |
2014 | Doctor of Laws |
| Mehta, Deepa | 2013 | Doctor of Laws |
| Metzger, Justice Robert W. | 2011 | Doctor of Laws |
| Michaels, Lorne | 1999 | Doctor of Laws |
| Milner, Brenda | 2008 | Doctor of Science |
| Minglun, Fang | 2004 | Doctor of Engineering |
| Mirvish, David | 1996 | Doctor of Letters |
| Mistry, Rohinton | 2012 | Doctor of Letters |
| Mock, Dennis | 2005 | Doctor of Laws |
| Moore, Roger | 1999 | Doctor of Laws |
| Moustapha, Hany | 2005 | Doctor of Engineering |
| Mustard, James Fraser | 2003 | Doctor of Science |
| Neville, John | 1999 | Doctor of Laws |
| Oberlander, Cornelia Hahn | 1999 | Doctor of Laws |
| Oliver, Peter | 2014 | Doctor of Laws |
| Orbinski, James | 2002 | Doctor of Laws |
| Osborne, Ron | 1998 | Doctor of Laws |
| Packham, Marian | 1997 | Doctor of Science |
| Patterson, Bonnie | 2014 | Doctor of Laws |
| Payette, Julie | 2011 | Doctor of Engineering |
| Pearson, Hon. Landon | 2006 | Doctor of Laws |
| Pelletier, Jean | 2002 | Doctor of Laws |
| Plummer, Christopher | 2002 | Doctor of Letters |
| Polistuk, Eugene | 2001 | Doctor of Engineering |
| Pringle, Valerie | 2012 | Doctor of Laws |
| Pushelberg, Glenn | 2003 | Doctor of Laws |
| Rabinovitch, Jack | 2014 | Doctor of Laws |
| Rae, Kyle | 2010 | Doctor of Laws |
| Reisman, Heather | 2006 | Doctor of Commerce |
| Reitman, Ivan | 2012 | Doctor of Letters |
| Risk, Margaret | 2001 | Doctor of Laws |
| Rogers, Edward S. and Loretta | 2004 | Doctor of Laws |
| Rose, Albert | 1996 | Doctor of Laws |
| Rosen, Harry | 2003 | Doctor of Commerce |
| Rosenberg, Janet | 2008 | Doctor of Laws |
| Ross, Anne | 1998 | Doctor of Laws |
| Rowe, Ian | 2002 | Doctor of Engineering |
| Salmon, Bev | 1999 | Doctor of Laws |
| Saul, Nick | 2016 | Doctor of Laws |
| Sedra, Adel | 2015 | Doctor of Engineering |
| Segal, Brian | 2008 | Doctor of Laws |
| Segal, Herschel | 2005 | Doctor of Laws |
| Shamian, Judith | 2006 | Doctor of Science |
| Sharp, Isadore | 2003 | Doctor of Commerce |
| Sharpe, John L. | 2005 | Doctor of Commerce |
| Sinclair, Hon. Justice Murray | 2013 | Doctor of Laws |
| Slaight, Allan | 2000 | Doctor of Commerce |
| Smith, David E. | 2010 | Doctor of Letters |
| Smol, John | 2016 | Doctor of Science |
| Sniderman, Sam | 1997 | Doctor of Commerce |
| Somerville, Margaret | 2006 | Doctor of Science |
| Stephenson, Carol | 2000 | Doctor of Engineering |
| Stewart, Brian | 2014 | Doctor of Journalism |
| Stiller, Calvin R. | 2013 | Doctor of Science |
| Storch, Janet | 2005 | Doctor of Science |
| Suzuki, David | 2007 | Doctor of Science |
| Tanenbaum, Howard and Carole | 2016 | Doctor of Laws |
| Tanenbaum, Joey | 2003 | Doctor of Commerce |
| Tanenbaum, Toby | 2003 | Doctor of Commerce |
| Taylor, Alex | 1998 | Doctor of Engineering |
| Temerty, James (Jim) |
2015 | Doctor of Laws |
| Temerty, Louise Arcand | 2015 | Doctor of Laws |
| Thirsk, Robert | 2012 | Doctor of Engineering |
| Tilghman, Shirley M. | 2007 | Doctor of Science |
| Triggs, Donald | 2007 | Doctor of Commerce |
| Trudell, Cynthia | 2000 | Doctor of Engineering |
| Vari, Hon. George William | 2007 | Doctor of Engineering |
| Wallin, Pamela | 2000 | Doctor of Journalism |
| Wickenheiser, Hayley | 2014 | Doctor of Laws |
| Wilkinson, Colm | 2012 | Doctor of Laws |
| Winkler, Chief Justice Warren | 2013 | Doctor of Laws |
| Wong, George | 2001 | Doctor of Commerce |
| Wright, Richard B. | 2003 | Doctor of Letters |
| Yabu, George | 2003 | Doctor of Laws |
| Zadeh, Lotfi Asker | 2008 | Doctor of Science |
| Zahn, Catherine | 2015 | Doctor of Laws |
Learn more at ryerson.ca/convocation/hondocs (opens in new window) .
