Liza Frulla, Director General of the ITHQ and former cabinet minister, was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Université du Québec en Outaouais for her contributions to culture, education, and public service; the ceremony featured, from left to right, Alexandre Cloutier, President of the Université du Québec, Liza Frulla, Louise Beaudoin, and Murielle Laberge, Rector of the UQO. Photo: Marie-André Blais – UQO
Liza Frulla honoured for lifetime of public service
Tashi Farmilo
Liza Frulla, Director General of the Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ), has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the Université du Québec en Outaouais. The recognition was presented on November 22 at the university’s 2025 graduation ceremony held at the Palais des Congrès in Gatineau.
The award highlights Frulla’s lasting impact on Quebec’s public institutions, particularly in the areas of culture, education, and tourism. She was honoured alongside former minister Louise Beaudoin, both celebrated for their influence on Quebec’s cultural and political development. The university described them as “builders and ambassadors” whose work will continue to inspire future generations.
Frulla’s career spans several decades and sectors. She began in sports journalism and radio before entering politics, where she served as Quebec’s Minister of Culture and Communications and later as Canada’s Minister of Canadian Heritage. Her contributions include the creation of the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles, and Canada’s role in leading the adoption of UNESCO’s Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
Since 2015, Frulla has led the ITHQ, where she has promoted innovation and strengthened the school’s position as a leader in hospitality and tourism education. The institute offers programs at the professional, technical, and university levels, and includes training facilities such as a teaching hotel, two restaurants, and a bar. It also supports research and development through its GastronomiQc Lab and ExperiSens units.
During her speech, Frulla acknowledged the symbolic weight of receiving this recognition from a university that shares her values around knowledge and transmission. She also emphasized her faith in the province’s youth, citing their energy and talent as a source of optimism.
“It's a tribute I share with everyone who believes in the strength of dialogue, in curiosity, and in building a Quebec that is open, creative, and forward-looking.”