Alma Ricard

Alma Ricard , née Vézina (October 4, 1906 – June 2, 2003) was a Canadian broadcaster and philanthropist. A partner with her husband F. Baxter Ricard in his broadcasting holdings, including Northern Cable and Mid-Canada Communications, after her husband's death in 1993 she became a prominent donor to institutional and educational charities. and the Sudbury General Hospital,

Ricard also donated $1 million to St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto for a study on the health impacts of inner city poverty; the hospital created the Baxter and Alma Ricard Chair in Inner City Health in 1998.

In 1998, Ricard made her largest philanthropic donation, giving $23 million The fund remains in operation today.

In 1999, she endowed a research chair in neurosurgery at the University of Toronto.

Honours She was granted an honorary doctorate by Laurentian University in 1997. She later received another honorary doctorate from the University of Ottawa.

In 1999, she was inducted into the Order of La Pléiade.

In 2000, Ricard was named an Officer of the Order of Canada, in honor of both her philanthropic work and her longtime history of community involvement. As Ricard was in poor health and unable to travel to Ottawa for her induction, Governor General Adrienne Clarkson personally travelled to Sudbury in 2002 to present Ricard with the honour.

Death Ricard died on June 2, 2003, in Sudbury, aged 96. Her funeral was held at the city's Sainte-Anne-des-Pins church, and was attended by dignitaries including businessman Paul Desmarais and former Governor General Roméo LeBlanc.