Awards & Honours

Professor Backhouse is the recipient of numerous awards and honours. 

  • Five Honorary Doctorates:
    Law Society of Ontario (2002), University of Manitoba (2010), Western University (2012), Carleton University (2013), Osgoode Hall Law School/York University (2022)

  • Willard Hurst Prize in Legal History (1992)

  • Gustavus Myers Award for books about human rights (1993)

  • Law Society Ontario Medal (1998)

  • Bora Laskin Human Rights Fellowship (1999)

  • President’s Award, Women’s Law Association of Ontario (2001)

  • Joseph Brant Award for Multicultural History (2002)

  • Award for Education Teaching Excellence, University of Ottawa Fac. Of Law (2002/03)

  • University Research Chair, University of Ottawa (2003)

  • Distinguished University Professor, University of Ottawa (2003)

  • Fellow, Royal Society of Canada (2004)

  • Celebrated Alumna, Faculty of Arts, University of Manitoba (2005)

  • Jules and Gabrielle Léger Fellowship (2006)

  • Trudeau Fellowship (2006)

  • University of Ottawa Award for Excellence in Research (2006)

  • Ramon Hnatyshyn Award, Canadian Bar Association (2006)

  • Killam Prize in Social Sciences (2008)

  • Order of Canada (2008)

  • Order of Ontario (2010)

  • David W. Mundell Medal (2011)

  • Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, 2012

  • Gold Medal, Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada (2011)

  • Governor General Person’s Medal (2013)

  • Molson Prize in Social Sciences (2015)

  • Osgoode Hall Law School Alumni Gold Key for Achievement (2016)

  • Award for Mentorship, University of Ottawa Faculty of Law (2022)

  • King Charles III Coronation Medal (2025)

  • Honorary Fellow, American Society for Legal History (2025)

  • Augusta Stowe-Gullen Medal for feminist activism (1981)