L. Richard O’Hagan

L. Richard O’Hagan

Doctor of Laws

Mr. O’Hagan will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D.). He is from Woodstock, New Brunswick, and attended Saint Mary’s University and Fordham University in the United States, before becoming a reporter with the Toronto Telegram. He then worked in the field of public relations before becoming Special Assistant to Lester B. Pearson in 1961, when he was leader of the Opposition.

From 1963 to 1966, Mr. O’Hagan was Press Secretary and Special Assistant to Pearson, who was by then Prime Minister of Canada. From 1966 to 1976, Mr. O’Hagan ran the information division of Canada’s embassy in Washington. During this period, he expanded Canada’s public information, cultural affairs and academic relations throughout the United States.

In 1976, Mr. O’Hagan became Pierre Trudeau’s Special Advisor on Communications, I which position he ran the Prime Minister’s press Office and shared responsibility for speech writing.

In 1976, Mr. O’Hagan joined the Bank of Montreal as Vice President, Public Affairs. In 1984, he became a Senior Vice-President.

Mr. O’Hagan is a member of the Board of Directors of the Institute for Political Involvement, and also of the Festival of Festivals and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. He was a Corporate Chairman of Saint Mary’s University successful $14 million Capital Campaign.