Diane Morrison was awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, at the 9:30 a.m. ceremony on Wednesday, June 10 “in recognition of a lifetime of service dedicated to improving the lives of homeless and marginalized people in the Ottawa-Carleton community.”
Diane Morrison was a school teacher for 15 years before becoming the executive director of the Ottawa Mission – a homeless shelter in the City of Ottawa. Ms. Morrison has revolutionized the care provided to
marginalized citizens in her community. In her role as executive director of the Ottawa Mission, an organization that provides food and shelter to homeless men and women, she dramatically increased the scope of available inner-city services. Since 1991, the Ottawa Mission grew from having 75 beds to 235.
Over two decades, she founded a learning centre, a six-month residential rehabilitation centre, an on-site dental clinic, and initiated a palliative care unit connected to the shelter, the first of its kind in North America. Her dedication and innovation have made her a pillar in city-wide efforts to alleviate hardship for disadvantaged citizens.
Currently, she sits on the board of the Ottawa Food Bank. She also volunteers at a local school where she helps young children learn to read.