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Her Excellency Sharon Johnston was awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, at the 9:30 a.m. ceremony on Tuesday, June 7, “in recognition of her career in rehabilitation science, her work in the field of child psychiatry, and as a Canadian author all while serving Canada, especially at Rideau Hall.”

Mrs. Johnston began her career in Kingston, Ont., as a psychiatric occupational therapist with young adults at Kingston General Hospital, and then worked as a therapist at Beechgrove, a treatment Centre for Children with Learning and Behavioral Problems. When the family moved to Toronto, she worked at the Crippled Children’s Centre in Occupational Therapy.

In 1966, she completed her studies in physical and occupational therapy at the University of Toronto. Later, she completed a Bachelor of Science at the University of Western Ontario, a Master of Science at McGill University, and her PhD in Rehabilitation Science at McGill University.

Mrs. Johnston recently published her first novel Matrons and Madams, a fictional account of life in  southwestern Alberta during a colourful, post-Great War era, based on her grandmother’s experiences.