The Board of Governors of Montreal Dio grants honorary degrees on the recommendation of its Academic Committee. These degrees are normally conferred at the college’s annual Convocation each spring in Montreal. Honorary degrees are granted in recognition of individuals who have made exceptional contributions of leadership or ministry in the church and in broader society.
In recommending individuals for honorary degrees, the Academic Committee seeks to adhere to the following guidelines.
Recipients can be graduates of the college who have given service to the broader church by, for example, their contribution to theological education, their supervision and instruction of candidates for ministry, or by otherwise rendering exemplary service to the church and its witness in the world. Recipients can also be non-graduates who have likewise given outstanding service to the church and world. The college generally seeks to recognize individuals who embody and enact the college’s vision of compassionate, courageous, and creative leadership for Christian witness in a rapidly changing world. The college is particularly eager to recognize the witness of lay members of congregations whose often quiet witness to their faith can be transformative in their contexts.
In keeping with the ecumenical nature of the college, the Academic Committee considers nominees from a range of denominational and ecclesial backgrounds, with particular attention paid to nominees from the Anglican Church of Canada, the United Church of Canada, and their global partners.
NOMINATION PROCESS
Nominations for honorary degrees are typically made in writing through the online nomination form. The committee also welcomes oral nominations in instances where the nominee’s work is best articulated through storytelling and traditional means of sharing.
Nominations must be submitted no later than December 15 of each calendar year.
The Nomination Form will ask for the following information:
- The name, contact information, and position of the Nominator(s),
- The name, contact information, and position of the Nominee,
- A brief description of the achievements and accomplishments of the Nominee, akin to a curriculum vitae of the Nominee (either in writing (max. 300 words) or through oral account),
- Succinct descriptions (either in writing or through oral account) indicating: (a) what the Nominee does or has done to deserve nomination (max. 300 words), (b) the significance of the nominee’s contribution for the community (max. 300 words), (c) recognition of other awards and/or honours the nominee may have already received (if any) (max. 150 words), and (d) evidence of how the nominee’s contributions relate to identified aims of honorary degrees at the college.
- Two or more reference letters (signed) or oral testimonies, addressed to the Academic Committee, one of which may be from the Nominator
Ineligibility
The Committee does not normally consider:
- Nominations of current members of the Board of Governors, the faculty, staff and administration of the College, employees of the College, or currently serving members of governing bodies or Committees of the College.
- Nominations of deceased persons (for posthumous awarding of degrees or awards).
- Self-nominations.
Confidentiality
Nominators shall take care to maintain confidentiality, not revealing the nomination to the nominee or to anyone else until the honorary degree or award has been adjudicated by the Board of Governors. The Academic Committee shall likewise hold all nominations in confidence.
Submission of Nominations
Nominations should be submitted online through the Nomination Form, no later than December 15 of each calendar year. Questions and other correspondence regarding honorary degrees and awards can be directed to the Principal, the Rev. Canon Jesse Zink.
The lists below present the historical recipients of the Doctor of Divinity degree by college. Since the 2022 merger, Montreal Dio has awarded a single honorary Doctor of Divinity each year, balancing recognition between the Anglican Church of Canada and The United Church of Canada.
Montreal Dio: Recipients of the Doctor of Divinity (1929 - 2021)
| Year/Année | Name/Nom | Position |
| 2026 | The Most Rev.Dr. Kimberly Heath | Moderator of the United Church of Canada |
| 2025 | Fiona Crossling | Member of St. Mark and St. Peter, Active non-profit leader |
| 2024 | The Rev. Morar Murray-Hayes | United Church Minister Inter-faith activist |
| 2023 | The Rev. Patricia Lisson | United Church Minister |
| 2022 | The Rev. Cathy Hamilton | United Church Minister, McGill/UTC Graduate |
| 2021 | Elizabeth May | Diocese of British Columbia, Leader of Green Party of Canada |
| 2020 | Nominee was deferred to next year due to pandemic | |
| 2019 | The Rt. Rev. Mary Irwin-Gibson | Bishop of Quebec |
| 2018 | The Most Rev. Fred Hiltz | Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada |
| 2017 | Mtre Michael Patry | Diocese of Montreal, Secretary of Montreal Diocesan Theological College |
| 2016 | The Rev. Canon Dr. John Simons | Former Principal, Montreal Diocesan Theological College |
| 2015 | No nominee | |
| 2014 | The Rev. Dr. Richard Cawley | Diocese of Montreal |
| 2013 | Dr. Walter Deller | Theologian and educator |
| 2012 | The Rev. Canon Dr. John Gibaut | Ecumenist |
| The Rev. Dr. John Vissers | Principal, Presbyterian College | |
| 2011 | Canon Florence Skene Tracy | McGill University |
| 2010 | The Rt. Rev. Dennis Drainville | Bishop of Quebec |
| 2009 | The Rev. Canon Ogé Beauvoir | Dean, Episcopal Theological Seminary in Haiti |
| 2008 | The Ven. Peter Hannen | Diocese of Montreal |
| The Rev. Prof. Patricia Kirkpatrick | Professor of Hebrew Scriptures, McGill University | |
| 2007 | The Rev. Prof. Douglas John Hall | Professor, McGill University, theologian and author |
| Mrs. Rhoda Palfrey Hall | Theologian | |
| 2006 | Dr. Eleanor Johnson | Director, Partners in Mission, Anglican Church of Canada |
| The Rt. Rev. Barry Clarke | Bishop of Montreal | |
| 2005 | The Rev. Canon Bryan Pearce | Diocese of Montreal |
| 2004 | The Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Rowlinson | Priest and educator |
| 2003 | The Rt. Rev. George Bruce | Bishop of Ontario |
| Mr. Patrick Wedd | Musician | |
| 2002 | The Rev. Canon Alyson Barnett-Cowan | Ecumenist |
| The Rt. Rev. Russell Hatton | Bishop and theological educator | |
| The Rev. Canon Dr. Jeno Kohner | Priest, Diocese of Montreal | |
| 2001 | The Rev. Canon Dr. Donald Thompson | General Secretary, Colleges and Universities of the Anglican Communion |
| Ms. Cynthia Patterson | Founder, Rural Dignity of Canada | |
| 2000 | Fr. Irénée Beaubien, S.J. | Ecumenist |
| 1999 | The Rev. Canon Dan Fleming | Priest, Diocese of Montreal |
| The Rev. Murray Magor | Priest | |
| 1998 | Rev. Paul Gibson | Liturgical Officer, Anglican Church of Canada |
| 1997 | The Most Rev. Orland Lindsay | Archbishop of the West Indies |
| Canon Dr. Constance Middleton-Hope | Social activist | |
| 1996 | Mr. Gerald Wheeler | Organist, Christ Church Cathedral |
| The Rev. William McCartny | Director, Old Brewery Mission | |
| 1995 | The Rev. Michael Lloyd | Director, Anglican Book Centre |
| 1994 | Dr. Phyllis Smith | Director of Pastoral Services, RVH |
| 1993 | The Rt. Rev. Andrew S. Hutchison | Bishop of Montreal |
| 1992 | The Rev. Canon Lettie James | Diocese of Montreal (first woman priest) |
| 1991 | The Rt. Rev. Walter Asbil | Bishop Coadjutor, Diocese of Niagara |
| 1990 | The Rev. Dr. William Klempa | Principal, The Presbyterian College |
| 1989 | The Most Rev. Michael G. Peers | Primate, Anglican Church of Canada |
| 1988 | The Rev. Peter Mason | Principal, Wycliffe College |
| The Rt. Rev. John A. Baycroft | Suffragan Bishop of Ottawa, Member of Anglican/Roman Catholic International Commission | |
| 1987 | Dr. David L. Johnston | Principal, Vice-Chancellor, McGill University |
| 1986 | Dr. Robert C. Culley | Professor of Old Testament, Acting Dean, Faculty of Religious Studies, McGill University |
| 1985 | Dr. Eugene R. Fairweather | Dean of Divinity, Trinity College |
| The Rt. Rev. James A. McLean | Suffragan Bishop of Montreal | |
| 1984 | No nominee | |
| 1983 | The Rt. Rev. Stephen C. Neill | Former Bishop of Tinnevelly, professor and author |
| 1982 | The Most Rev. Harold H. Nutter | Metropolitan of the Province of Canada |
| 1981 | Mother Anne Marie | Mother Superior, Society of St. Margaret |
| Mrs. Mary S. McC. Naylor | Diocese of Montreal | |
| The Rev. Samuel L. Pollard | Alumnus of Montreal Diocesan Theological College | |
| 1980 | The Most Rev. R. L. Seaborn | First Bishop of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador |
| The Ven John N. Doidge | Archdeacon of Montreal | |
| Monseigneur Bernard Hubert | Bishop of St. Jean-de-Québec | |
| 1979 | Sr. Marie Noelle de Baillehache | Director, Centre MI-CA-EL, Montreal |
| The Ven. H. St.C. Hilchey | Former Principal, Montreal Diocesan Theological College | |
| 1978 | The Rt. Rev. Allen Goodings | Bishop of Quebec |
| The Rev. Cyril H. Powles | Professor of Church History, Trinity College, Toronto | |
| The Rev. Canon R. M. Turpin | Diocese of Montreal and Officer for French-English Relations, Anglican Church of Canada | |
| 1977 | No nominee | |
| 1976 | The Rt. Rev. Henry G. Hill | Bishop of Ontario |
| 1975 | The Rt. Rev. Reginald Hollis | Bishop of Montreal |
| The Rev. Canon Monroe Peaston | McGill University and Former Principal, Montreal Diocesan Theological College | |
| 1974 | The Ven. T. Desmond Rowe | Diocese of Montreal |
| The Rev. Canon John O. Peacock | Diocese of Montreal | |
| 1973 | The Rev. Mark A. Beaufoy | Former Warden, Montreal Diocesan Theological College |
| Dr. J. A. Boorman | Principal, United Theological College | |
| The Rev. J. C. McLelland | Professor, Faculty of Religious Studies, McGill University | |
| The Most Rev. Edward W. Scott | Primate of All Canada | |
| 1972 | The Rt. Rev. R. E. Fraser Berry | Bishop of Kootenay |
| 1971 | No nominee | |
| 1970 | The Very Rev. R. G. Fleming | Bishop of Rupert’s Land |
| The Rt. Rev. Barry Valentine | Dean of Ontario | |
| 1969 | No nominee | |
| 1968 | The Rev. Dr. H. H. Walsh | McGill University |
| The Rt. Rev. R. F. Brown | Bishop of Quebec | |
| 1967 | Dr. R. C. Rae | Vice-Chancellor, Sir George Williams University |
| 1966 | No nominee | |
| 1965 | No nominee | |
| 1964 | The Rev. Dr. Eric G. Jay | McGill University and Principal, Montreal Diocesan Theological College |
| 1963 | The Rt. Rev. R. K. Maguire | Bishop of Montreal |
| The Ven. I. M. Lidstone | Diocese of Montreal | |
| The Most Rev. H. H. Clark | Primate / Bishop of Rupert’s Land | |
| 1962 | The Rt. Hon. and Most Rev. Geoffrey L. Fisher | Archbishop of Canterbury |
| 1961 | The Rt. Rev. John Dixon | Bishop of Montreal |
| 1960 | Dr. Henry F. Hall | Vice-Chancellor, Sir George Williams University |
| 1959 | The Rev. Dr. G. B. Caird | Principal, United Theological College |
| The Ven. J. F. Morris | Diocese of Montreal | |
| 1958 | The Rev. Canon R. H. L. Slater | McGill University and Principal, Montreal Diocesan Theological College |
| The Rev. Canon J. J. Willis | Diocese of Montreal | |
| The Rt. Rev. William Wright | Bishop of Algoma | |
| 1957 | The Rt. Rev. Percival W. Gibson | Bishop of Jamaica |
| The Rev. Dr. D. B. Rogers | Board of Education, General Synod | |
| 1956 | The Ven. R. Kenneth Naylor | Diocese of Montreal |
| 1955 | The Rev. G. G. D. Kilpatrick | Principal, United Theological College |
| The Rev. Sidney Jellicoe | Bishop’s University | |
| Dr. John W. Forth | Bishop’s University |
UTC: Recipients of the Doctor of Divinity (1929 - 2021)
| Year/Année | Name/Nom | Address/Adresse |
| 2021 | Miller, K.D. | Toronto, ON |
| 2019 | Manly, Eva Grace | Nanaimo, BC |
| 2019 | Manly, James Douglas | Nanaimo, BC |
| 2018 | Reyes, Rex RB | Philippines |
| 2017 | Scott, James Vincent (Jamie) | Chelsea, QC |
| 2016 | Arce Valentin, Reinerio | |
| 2015 | No award recipient due to shared MST convocation | |
| 2014 | Goldman, Richard | Montreal, QC |
| 2013 | Robinson, Kenneth O. | Ottawa, ON |
| 2012 | Snelling, Roger Arthur | DECEASED |
| 2011 | Goldberger, Pierre | Montreal, QC |
| 2010 | Gualtieri, Antonio Roberto | Ottawa, ON |
| 2010 | Hoffman, John | DECEASED |
| 2009 | Wakeling, Faye | DECEASED |
| 2008 | Evans, Amy | Harrington Harbour, MB |
| 2007 | Hall, Douglas | Montreal, QC |
| 2006 | Mount, Balfour | Montreal, QC |
| 2005 | Johnston, Nandy | Toronto, ON |
| 2005 | Campbell, K. James | Oakville, QC |
| 2004 | Hanna, Helen | DECEASED |
| 2003 | Ham, Adolfo | |
| 2002 | Smyth, Phyllis | Montreal, ON |
| 2001 | Finson, Shelley | DECEASED |
| 2000 | McNab, John | Pickering, ON |
| 2000 | Hadrill, Joan | Beaconsfield, |
| 1999 | Bailey, Frank | DECEASED |
| 1998 | Klassen, Betty Jean | Toronto, ON |
| 1998 | Edmonds, Tom | Bromont, ON |
| 1997 | Kirkwood, James | Toronto, ON |
| 1997 | Hatfield, Mary | |
| 1996 | Nerny, Maurice | Verdun, BC |
| 1996 | Runnalls, Donna | Vancouver, BC |
| 1995 | Meadows, Frank | DECEASED |
| 1995 | Leicester Bigby, Hazel Evelet | Brampton, QC |
| 1994 | Duncan, Muriel | Mississauga, QC |
| 1993 | Hallman, David | Toronto, ON |
| 1993 | Griffith, Gwyneth | Toronto, ON |
| 1992 | Mitsui, Tadashi | Lethbridge, QC |
| 1992 | Kushner, Eva | |
| 1991 | Kernen, Willa | Saskatoon, QC |
| 1991 | McKay, Stan | Gladstone, PEI |
| 1990 | Mair, Nathan | Charlottetown, QC |
| 1990 | Taylor, James | |
| 1989 | Booth, Rodney | Surrey, SK |
| 1989 | Parent, Madeleine | |
| 1988 | Woodsworth, David | |
| 1987 | Grew, John | |
| 1987 | Legge, Garth | |
| 1986 | Boorman, J. A. | Kirkland, QC |
| 1986 | Cox, Leticia | |
| 1985 | Osborne, Robert | |
| 1984 | de Mestral, Claude | |
| 1984 | Henderson, Evelyn Mary | |
| 1984 | Wright, Robert | |
| 1983 | McCullum, Hugh | |
| 1983 | Robertson Matthews, Alan | |
| 1982 | Melburn McDowell, Samuel | |
| 1981 | McCord, Dave | DECEASED |
| 1980 | Squire, Anne | Ottawa, ON |
| 1980 | Power, Margaret Mary | |
| 1979 | Boorman, Margaret | |
| 1978 | Wilson, Lois | Toronto, ON |
| 1977 | Johnston, Norman | DECEASED |
| 1976 | Jay, Eric | |
| 1975 | Collins, Jean | |
| 1975 | Montour, Enos | |
| 1974 | Johnston, George | |
| 1974 | Moore, Aubrey George | |
| 1973 | Harvey, Julien | |
| 1972 | Carey, Frank E. | Wolfville, QC |
| 1972 | Lovelace, Arthur | |
| 1971 | King, Albert E. | |
| 1971 | Scott, Edward | |
| 1970 | Ennals, Bernard | Toronto, BC |
| 1970 | Jones, P. W. E. | |
| 1970 | Scoates, D. J. | |
| 1970 | Slaughter, Norman | |
| 1969 | Kelly, William | |
| 1968 | Wilson, Reginald | Vancouver, ON |
| 1968 | Carleton Rose, Victor | |
| 1968 | Machin, Samuel | |
| 1967 | Matheson, Charles | |
| 1966 | Morgan, Frank | DECEASED |
| 1966 | Cantwell Smith, Wilfred | |
| 1966 | Christie, Katharine | |
| 1965 | Mowatt, Andrew | |
| 1965 | Walsh, Henry | |
| 1963 | MacMillan, Kenneth | DECEASED |
| 1963 | Barr, Ronald | |
| 1962 | Griffith, A. Leonard | |
| 1961 | Johnston, Charles F. | Pointe-Claire, ON |
| 1961 | Joblin, Kingsley | DECEASED |
| 1960 | Kilpatrick, George | |
| 1959 | Doxsee, Francis | |
| 1959 | Smith, Alfred | |
| 1958 | Feher, Michael | |
| 1958 | McNaught, Thomas | |
| 1957 | Patterson, John | |
| 1957 | Smith, Reginald | |
| 1956 | Knowles, Eustace | DECEASED |
| 1956 | Berry, William | |
| 1955 | Mowatt, Joseph | |
| 1955 | Wright, William | |
| 1954 | Brown, Burton | |
| 1954 | Copland, Edward | |
| 1953 | Long, Ernest | |
| 1953 | Wadsworth, Gordon | |
| 1950 | Cragg, Gerald | |
| 1950 | Ferguson, William | |
| 1950 | Forsyth, David | |
| 1950 | George, Alfred | |
| 1950 | McCrae, James | |
| 1949 | Amaron, Errol | DECEASED |
| 1949 | Scott, Robert | |
| 1948 | Campbell, Harvey | |
| 1948 | Dewey, George | |
| 1948 | Gilmour, Samuel | |
| 1948 | MacKay, James | |
| 1947 | Moore, Arthur | DECEASED |
| 1947 | Anderson, Frederick | |
| 1947 | Collins, Stanley | |
| 1947 | Laite, Uriah | |
| 1946 | Carson, Herman | |
| 1944 | Ridout, Denzil | |
| 1942 | Coburn, David | |
| 1942 | Cousland, Kenneth | |
| 1941 | Joliat, Henri | |
| 1940 | Mutchmor, James | |
| 1939 | Lochead, Arthur | |
| 1939 | Moir, Donald | |
| 1939 | Taylor, Ernest | |
| 1938 | Jones, Thomas | |
| 1938 | Young, Ernest | |
| 1937 | Katsunoff, Robert | |
| 1937 | MacLeod, Donald | |
| 1936 | Matheson, A. Dawson | |
| 1936 | Miller, John | |
| 1935 | Mercer, George | |
| 1935 | Temple, John | |
| 1934 | Clark, John | |
| 1934 | Williams, Charles | |
| 1933 | Faulds, James | |
| 1933 | Langford, Frederick | |
| 1933 | Sleep, Albert | |
| 1930 | Ross, Andrew | |
| 1929 | Hurst, George | |
| 1929 | Shaw, William |