The University of Ottawa will confer nine honorary doctorates to influential figures whose exceptional careers have had a significant impact on their field of expertise and on society. The ceremonies will take place during Convocation ceremonies which will be held June 8-12, 2026, at the Rogers Centre.
The honorary doctorate of the University of Ottawa celebrates those who, through their commitment, their work or their influence, embody the values that its institution strives to share. These honours not only recognize remarkable careers, but they also celebrate a vision of the world, a quest for excellence and a commitment to the common good that inspires future generations of students.
The recipients are:
- Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier - 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate and inventor of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology.
- Elder Joan Commanda Tenasco - From Kitigàn Zìbì Anishinàbeg First Nation in Quebec, Elder Commanda Tenasco is an Anishinàbekwe, respected Algonquin language keeper, translator and educator.
- Louis Gagnon - A business visionary and the CEO of Intact Financial Corporation’s Canadian operations who championed the creation of the Intact Health Resilience Initiative.
- The Honourable Nicholas Kasirer – Judge of the Supreme Court of Canada, Justice Kasirer has made substantial contributions to research and teaching across Canada’s common and civil law traditions.
- Dr. Denis Mukwege - 2018 Nobel Peace Prize recipient and advocate for the rights of survivors of sexual violence as a weapon of war.
- Joelle Pineau - Distinguished scholar and an influential voice on reproducibility, open science and ethical frameworks in AI.
- Rémi Quirion - Since being appointed Québec’s first chief scientist in 2011, Dr. Rémi Quirion has been a tireless advocate for interdisciplinary research, international collaboration and public engagement with science.
- Kim St-Pierre – An Olympian who has built a career that combines high-level performance, leadership and a lasting contribution to the growth of women’s hockey.
- Normand Voyer – Renowned chemistry professor recognized as an outstanding science communicator, in addition to his research into potential new therapeutics in the Arctic, he inspires young people to take up careers in chemistry.
You may find their Full biographies and the Directory of past honorary doctorates.
The honorary doctorates will be conferred during the University of Ottawa's Convocation ceremonies, to be held June 8-12, 2026, at the Rogers Centre.
---
For further information: media@uOttawa.ca