2024 honorary doctorate
This year, the honorary doctorate of the Faculty of Health Sciences was awarded to Daniel Alfredsson, whose career in the NHL made him famous.
In 1994, this Swedish player was drafted by the Ottawa Senators, a team with which he would have a long and prolific career. Throughout the years, Daniel Alfredsson was not only involved with the Ottawa Senators, but also within the Ottawa community through the Ottawa Senators Community Foundation, the Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health and the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa. In 2008, he became the face of the Royal Ottawa’s “You Know Who I Am” campaign, demonstrating his involvement in mental health and the prevention of substance abuse.
Alfredsson, who spent a large part of his career in Ottawa, received many awards over the years. In 1996, he was awarded the Calder Trophy, an award given to the player who proves the proficient during their first year in the NHL. Following the 2011-2012 season, he was awarded the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, which is given to a player displaying exceptional leadership and having contributed to the community. The following season, he received the Mark Messier Leadership Award, awarded by the Hockey Hall of Fame to a leader both on and off the ice. In 2015, he received the keys to the City of Ottawa, and then in 2016, the Meritorious Service Decoration - Civil Division of the Governor General.
According to Lucie Thibault, dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Daniel Alfredsson’s role in the promotion of safe sports and mental health, as well as his involvement in the city that is home to our university, make him the ideal recipient of this honorary doctorate. Further, his engagement aligns perfectly with the missions of two of our schools, namely the School of Human Kinetics and the Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences.
Captain Alfie
Alfredsson, affectionately nicknamed “Alfie,” played the majority of his career with the Ottawa Senators before being traded to the Detroit Red Wings for the last of his 18 seasons in the NHL. The 133rd draft pick in 1994 would have a dazzling career, playing 1246 games (regular season and playoffs), scoring 1157 points (444 goals and 713 assists) and fulfilling the role of captain for 13 seasons.
Before retiring in 2014, Daniel Alfredsson signed a symbolic, one-day contract with the Ottawa Senators to skate with the team during warmup, giving him the chance to end his career in the very place it began. Daniel Alfredsson’s Hockey Hall of Fame induction and the retirement of his number 11 jersey took place December 29, 2016. In addition to his career in the NHL, he represented Sweden in the Olympic Games five times, winning two medals. In 2023, Daniel Alfredsson finally rejoined the Ottawa Senators — the organization that saw him progress in the NHL — to support the new generation of players as assistant head coach, a title given by interim coach Jacques Martin.
Congratulations to our new graduates of the Faculty of Health Sciences!
After many years of work, these graduates are now members of our large alumni community. They can now rely on a vast network of contacts and the reputation of their degree in the job market.
Class of 2024 in numbers*:
- Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences: 252 (undergraduate), 24 (graduate)
- School of Human Kinetics: 161 (undergraduate), 68 (graduate)
- School of Nursing (including collaborative program with Algonquin College): 311 (undergraduate), 68 (graduate)
- School of Nutrition Sciences: 11 (undergraduate)
- School of Rehabilitation Sciences: 111 (graduate)
*Includes all people having received their diplomas between September 2023 and June 2024.
See the list of graduates.
See the list of prizes and medals.
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