7 Canadians with more than a dozen honorary degrees

Writers, astronauts, pioneering female scientists—these Canadians have achieved remarkable things through their work, and probably have a gown pressed and ready to receive their next honorary degree:

1. Number of degrees: 38 Louise Arbour, former Supreme Court justice and past United Nations high commissioner for human rights. Includes Abo Akademi University in Finland, and the National University of Ireland.

2. 37: Stephen Lewis, board chair of the Stephen Lewis Foundation and former UN secretary-general’s special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa. Includes Dartmouth College and Johns Hopkins University in the U.S.

3. 28: Biologist and conservationist David Suzuki. Includes Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia, and Open University in Milton Keynes, England4. 24: Physician, scientist and astronaut Roberta Bondar. Includes University of Western Ontario and Niagara University in New York.

5. 19: Distinguished poet and novelist Margaret Atwood. Includes Harvard University and the Royal Military College of Canada.

6. 16: Former prime minister Jean Chrétien. Includes Meiji University in Tokyo and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

7. 13: Senator and retired Lt.-Gen. Roméo Dallaire. Includes Boston College and City University of New York.

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