About U of T Celebrates

Our tradition of excellence

Margaret Atwood

Margaret AtwoodBooker Prize (2000, 2019), Companion of the Order of Canada (1981), Governor General’s Literary Award (1966, 1985)

Marshall McLuhan

Marshall McLuhanCompanion of the Order of Canada (1970), Governor General’s Literary Award (1962)

John Polanyi

John PolanyiGerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering (2007), Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Prize (1988), Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1986), Companion of the Order of Canada (1979), Royal Society of Canada (1977)

Lester B. Pearson

Lester B. PearsonCompanion of the Order of Canada (1968), Nobel Peace Prize (1957)

At U of T, we believe in celebrating excellence

For nearly two centuries we’ve been a place where the world’s brightest minds come together to explore, discover, question and challenge.

Our remarkable community of students, faculty, staff and alumni has transformed ideas into impact and made sense of the world around us – through art, literature, social science, basic science, medicine, law, engineering, athletics and community engagement.

The U of T Celebrates site recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of these members of our community who strive for excellence in all they do.

It celebrates the faculty whose award-winning research and teaching make U of T one of the top-ranked universities in the world – and the students, alumni and staff whose talent, creativity and commitment are recognized across the country and around the globe.

Rosie MacLennan

Rosie MacLennanOlympic Gold Medal (2016, 2008), Pan American Games Gold Medal (2015, 2011) & Silver Medal (2007)

Thain Wendell MacDowell

Thain Wendell MacDowellVictoria Cross for the Battle of Vimy Ridge, First Word War (1917)

Sir Frederick Banting

Sir Frederick BantingFellow of the Royal Society (1935), Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1923) with U of T’s J.R.R. Macleod

Janet Rossant

Janet RossantL’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science Awards (2018), Gairdner Wightman Award (2015), Ross G. Harrison Medal (2013), Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (1993)

Our award-winning community

Geoffrey Hinton

Geoffrey HintonNobel Prize in Physics (2024), A.M. Turing Award (2018), Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering (2011), Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (1998)

Dionne Brand

Dionne BrandMember of the Order of Canada (2018), University of Toronto honorary degree (2018) Griffin Poetry Prize (2011), Governor General’s Literary Award (1997)

Natalie Zemon Davis with Barack Obama

Natalie Zemon DavisNational Humanities Medal (2012), Companion of the Order of Canada (2012), Holberg International Memorial Prize (2010) – Read U of T News article

George Elliott Clarke

George Elliott ClarkeParliamentary Poet Laureate (2016), Officer of the Order of Canada (2008), Governor General’s Literary Award (2001)

Faculty, students, staff and alumni

At U of T, we consistently punch above our weight in national and international competitions.

Our community of faculty, students, staff and alumni includes Nobel laureates and Rhodes Scholars, A.M.Turing Award winners and Man Booker Prize winners, recipients of the Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal for Science and Engineering and the Holberg International Memorial Prize. It includes winners of the Killam Prize, Molson Prize, Gold Leaf Prize, Steacie Prize, Balzan Prize, and Wolf Prize, the Academy Award, the Juno Award – and hundreds of Royal Society Fellows and recipients of the Order of Canada.

We congratulate all of our awards and honours recipients – past, present and future.

J.J.R. MacLeod

J.J.R. MacLeodFellow of the Royal Society of Canada (1919), Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1923)

Edil Ga’al

Edil Ga’alRhodes Scholarship (2018)

Molly Shoichet

Molly ShoichetKillam Prize for engineering (2017), Officer of the Order of Canada (2017), L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science Awards (2015)

Mychael Danna

Mychael DannaCanadian Screen Award (2018), Academy Award (2013), Golden Globe Award (2013), Emmy Award (2013)

Help us celebrate!

Do you know of any U of T faculty, students, staff, or alumni who are being recognized for their excellence?

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