Rev. Dr. Cheri DiNovo named as 2026 Honorary Degree Recipient
St. Stephen's College is delighted to announce Rev. Dr. Cheri DiNovo, CM, as the College’s honorary degree recipient for 2026.
Rev. Dr. Cheri DiNovo is recognized with the honorary Doctor of Divinity for her prophetic vision, transformative leadership, and ongoing work to advance 2SLGBTQIA+ rights and legislation in Canada. As a young, queer woman, Rev. Dr. DiNovo became aware of the discrimination experienced by members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. She was among those demonstrating at the 1971 “We Demand” march, and is recorded in Canadian history as the only woman to sign the “We Demand” manifesto (the first demand for equal rights of gays and lesbians). Having completed MDiv and DMin degrees at Emmanuel College in Toronto, Rev. Dr. DiNovo spent 12 years serving as a United Church of Canada minister to faith communities in Brucefield, ON and then Emmanuel-Howard Park United Church (known today as Roncesvalles United) in Toronto, ON. It was in 2001, during her time at Emmanuel-Howard Park, that Rev. Dr. DiNovo officiated what is regarded by many as the first legal same-sex marriage in Canadian history. In 2006, Rev. Dr. DiNovo transitioned to politics, serving as a Member of the Provincial Parliament (MPP) for the Ontario NDP in the riding of Parkdale-High Park. During her eleven-year tenure, Rev. Dr. DiNovo is on record as having passed more Private Member’s Bills than any other MPP in Ontario’s history, and she also is regarded as having passed more pro-2SLGBTQIA+ legislation than anyone in Canadian history. As a result of these efforts, Ontario has enacted laws protecting trans rights, banning conversion therapy, establishing parental equality for queer parents, and enshrining November 20 as Ontario’s Trans Day of Remembrance. This impressive legislative agenda was accomplished—remarkably—in ways that earned Rev. Dr. DiNovo the nickname, “queen of tri-party bills,” on account that her legislative record regularly garnered support from all three sitting parties. Upon retiring from politics in 2017, Rev. Dr. DiNovo returned to the church, where she served as minister of Toronto’s Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church until her retirement in 2024. She continues to host her radio show and podcast titled, “The Radical Reverend,” she is the author of two books, in 2022 she was inducted as a Member of the Order of Canada, and in 2026 she was given the Keys to the City of Toronto.
Please visit our 2026 Honorary Degree Recipient page to read more about Rev. Dr. DiNovo and the contributions for which she is being recognized.
St. Stephen’s confers honorary degrees each year at the College’s convocation ceremony. This year, the 102nd Convocation will be held on November 16, 2026. Details can be found on our Convocation webpage.
Since 1917, St. Stephen's College has granted honorary degrees in recognition of individuals who have made exceptional contributions of leadership and/or ministry, either to their faith community or in spiritually-integrated ways to the broader human community. Honorary degrees and awards are granted to individuals whose meritorious work embodies and extends the mission of St. Stephen’s College. St. Stephen’s College is a degree-granting graduate college affiliated with the University of Alberta.