Dr. Alfredsson, meet Dr. Ruth.
The University of Ottawa announced Wednesday a list of 11 people set to receive honorary doctorates at its spring convocation — and there are two clear headliners.
Ottawa Senators great Daniel Alfredsson, now an assistant coach with the team, joins famous sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer, 96, on the list. Westheimer’s son, Joel, has been a professor at the University of Ottawa for more than two decades.
Alfredsson, inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2022, has been a staple of the Ottawa community for most of the past two decades. He has helped raise awareness for mental illness and substance abuse during his time in the capital.
Alfredsson received an honorary doctorate from Ottawa’s other university, Carleton, in 2016.
Alfredsson will receive his doctorate from the Faculty of Health Sciences on Thursday, while Dr. Ruth will get her honour from the Faculty of Education via video on Friday.
Others on the list are journalist Alexandra Szacka, poet Albert Dumont, business leader and former Nipissing University president Mike DeGagné, professor Deborah Diniz, scientists Sethuraman Panchanathan and Pascal Mayer, former MP Lisa Raitt, nurse Angela Cooper Brathwaite and medical doctor Cara Tannenbaum.