For Immediate Release
May 12, 2026 Ottawa, ON — Algonquin College will award honorary degrees to two distinguished Canadian leaders during its upcoming 2026 Spring Convocation ceremonies.
The 2026 honorary degree recipients are General Jennie Carignan, Chief of the Defence Staff, and Leah Levesque, a respected health‑care executive and former CEO of Arnprior Regional Health. Both are being recognized for careers defined by leadership, service and a commitment to learning.
“General Carignan and Leah Levesque exemplify the values of integrity, leadership and service that we seek to inspire in our graduates,” said Algonquin College President and CEO Claude Brulé. “We are proud to honour their remarkable contributions to Canada and to the communities they serve.”
Throughout their careers, both honourees have championed the value of lifelong learning, continuous growth and the importance of education at every stage of life. Through leadership in national defence and health-care, they have demonstrated how learning, curiosity and the willingness to evolve can open doors, strengthen communities and prepare people to meet complex challenges.
- “Education has allowed me to be better prepared to address complexity and a whole broad range of problems, along with being more comfortable with uncertainty.” — General Jennie Carignan
- “This is just the beginning. Continue to invest in yourself by continuous learning. Find opportunities where you can grow and learn from others.” — Leah Levesque
About the Honorary Degree Recipients
General Jennie Carignan – Chief of the Defence Staff, Canadian Armed Forces
General Jennie Carignan is being honoured for a distinguished career of service and leadership in the Canadian Armed Forces. As Chief of the Defence Staff, she provides military advice to the Government of Canada and, together with the Deputy Minister of National Defence, leads a Defence Team of more than 120,000 military and civilian personnel. Her career reflects a strong commitment to adaptability, respect and lifelong learning, and she has been a trailblazer in senior leadership roles in Canada and internationally.
Leah Levesque – Former Chief Executive Officer, Arnprior Regional Health
Leah Levesque is recognized for more than four decades of leadership in health care. Beginning her career as a registered nurse, she advanced into senior executive roles, including vice president of patient care and CEO of Arnprior Regional Health, retiring in 2024. Throughout her career, she championed collaboration, workforce development and partnerships with educational institutions, including Algonquin College, to strengthen patient care and health‑care leadership.
Algonquin College’s 2026 Convocation ceremonies will take place June 23–26, 2026, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa. Graduates will participate in 12 ceremonies over four days.
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About Algonquin College
The mission of Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology is to transform hopes and dreams into lifelong success. Algonquin College, an Ontario public sector community college, does this by offering hands-on, digitally connected, experiential learning in close to 170 programs. Algonquin College is the largest polytechnic institute in Eastern Ontario, with campuses in Ottawa and Pembroke, with fully online programming delivered through AC Online.
Media Contact:
Sara‑Lynne Levine
Communications Officer
levines2@algonquincollege.com
613‑614‑1769
a career spent shaping the health care system many graduates are about to enter. Over decades, she has led teams, built partnerships, innovated and created opportunities for others. The recognition is fitting, not just for what she has accomplished, but how she has achieved it: with a steady focus on people and doing the right thing. 
leadership. Her work has taken her from early engineering studies to the highest military position in the country, and the recognition arrives at a moment when her influence is felt across the Canadian Armed Forces and beyond. 
