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. 

Other Recent News

Partial x OCAD University Artist Showcase Summer 2025 Call for Artists

Partial and OCAD U’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers are excited to announce the return of our partnership which provides an exceptional career opportunity for OCAD U student artists and recent alumni (2024 grads). Thirty (30) selected artists will be given complimentary 2 year Pro Accounts ($240 value) on Partial and permanent inclusion as featured artists within the OCAD University Artist Showcase on Partial to display their works, and administrate artwork sales and rentals.

2025 Mentorship Program for Creative Entrepreneurs: Call for Participants

OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers is launching a mentorship program for creative entrepreneurs. Running from June to December 2025, this initiative is designed to empower early-stage creative businesses across a spectrum of disciplines—including visual art, cultural production, design fields, media production, social enterprise, technology-enabled services and more. Through mentorship, the program aims to bridge the gap between ideas and successful business ventures.