Maureen Lacroix receives honourary doctorate from U of S

Laurentian Hospital's first ever female board chair, Maureen Lacroix, was presented with an honourary doctorate of Sacred Letters from the University of Sudbury March 17.

Lacroix is a registered nurse who has dedicated many years to improving health care in the community of Sudbury and northerastern Ontario, by developing key programs in integrated housing, comprehensive cancer care, research, and physician education.

“This was a great surprise to me,” Lacroix said. “Our family goes back quite a long way with the University of Sudbury.

“My husband (Andre Lacroix) was a graduate of Sacred Heart College, which was sort of the first post-secondary institution that there was in the north, and the University of Sudbury evolved out of Sacre Heart College.”

Lacroix's family connections run deep with the university, whether through her husband, or attending mass at Canisius Hall.

“My children used to love coming to mass here because they could sneak into the back room,” said Lacroix, who graduated from Laurentian with a degree in philosophy and religious studies.

“We've had children who were christened here and we've had families that we've met and become friends with here.

“If there's a kernel of knowledge in all of this it's that (University of Sudbury) gave me the courage and insights to go out into the community and do things and it's been wonderful for me.”

As a community activist, Lacroix paved the way for the Genevra House for battered women and the Northern Regional Recovery Home for women with addictions.

She also served as chair of the board at the Sudbury Theatre Centre, where she presided over the construction of the current building.

Lacroix was not only Laurentian Hospital's first ever female board chair, but she was also the first woman to chair the University of Sudbury's Board of Regents from 1984 to 1996, and the first woman to chair the Laurentian University Board of Governors (1999 – 2003).

“This honour is really important, it's a real honour for our family and certainly for me,” said Lacroix. “It's unexpected but I'm very pleased.”