Top row, left to right: Kat Holmes, Robert Houle, the late Philip B. Lind. Bottom row, left to right: Nancy McCain, Rosemary Sadlier.

Last year’s honorands included an outspoken leader of inclusive design, one of Canada’s most influential First Nations artists, a Canadian telecommunications icon, a leading supporter of Canadian arts and culture and one of the founders of Black History Month.

OCAD University is accepting nominations for 2024 honorary doctorate degree recipients, which will be presented at Convocation in June 2024.

An honorary doctorate degree is the highest honour OCAD U offers. Honorary degrees are presented to outstanding and inspiring individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the fields of art, design, culture, education and to the ideals of OCAD U.

Faculty, staff, students and alums are invited to submit the names of those individuals who are deserving of an honorary doctorate degree by Friday, January 26, 2024, 5 p.m. EST.

Nominations may be made through the online nomination form. For more information, please read the nomination guidelines, as well as the list of past recipients.

2023 HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREE RECIPIENTS

At June 2023 Convocation, OCAD U presented honorary degrees to five exceptional individuals: Kat Holmes, Robert Houle, the late Philip B. Lind, Nancy McCain and Rosemary Sadlier.

The honorands were recognized alongside more than 700 students from OCAD U’s three faculties and Graduate Studies who received their diplomas at Roy Thomson Hall. Each recipient also gave a speech to inspire the next generation of artists and designers. 

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Partial x OCAD University Artist Showcase Summer 2026 Call for Artists

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OCAD U x SickKids Research Institute Exhibition - Call for Artists

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