At Fall Convocation on Friday, November 1, the University of Ottawa paid tribute to two exceptional role models. Zita Cobb and Terence Matthews received Honorary Doctorates to mark their outstanding achievements and contributions to Canada.
Zita Cobb
Zita Cobb is Founder and CEO of Shorefast, a Canadian charity that helps secure economic and cultural resilience for Fogo Island, Newfoundland—one of Canada’s oldest settlements and the place where she grew up. Fogo Island was one of Newfoundland’s coastal communities on the brink of extinction due to the 1960s collapse of the Atlantic northwest cod fishery.
Following a successful stint in finance for the high-tech industry, Cobb returned to Fogo Island in the early 2000s to help reinvigorate her childhood home. Through Shorefast, Cobb and her brothers, in collaboration with the Fogo Island community, established a set of projects to build another leg on the Island's economy and generate programming around the inherent assets of place. In particular, Shorefast built the Fogo Island Inn, a renowned architectural marvel overlooking the North Atlantic that returns all profits to Shorefast for reinvestment in the community.
Terence Matthews
Sir Terence Matthews is a Welsh-Canadian business magnate and prolific entrepreneur who made his mark in the high-tech industry. He is the founder and Chairman of Wesley Clover International, a global investment management firm and holding company that builds and finances companies in the technology and communications sectors. Early data networking giant Newbridge Networks and current business communications leader Mitel are highlights. In 2017, Matthews was also appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada for his contributions to the development of modern telecommunications.