CBC personalities Eleanor Wachtel and Rick Mercer, former BC Lions head coach Wally Buono and singer-songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk and her husband Raine Maida were among the latest crop of accomplished Canadians to be invested into the Order of Canada on Wednesday.
Gov. Gen. David Johnston hosted an investiture ceremony at Rideau Hall, formally inducting nine new officers and 35 new members to the order.
Kreviazuk, who has been involved with variety of human rights organizations and causes, was asked for her thoughts on Canada’s military mission against the Islamic State and the ongoing refugee crisis.
“The issue is so complex,” she told Global News. “We can see the continual suppression of women and the continual suppression of education … a lack of programming strengthens ISIS. I understand the need for military force, and I am respectful of all that goes into it and the people who put their lives on the line, but I do think more of a focus and more funding needs to go into a continued commitment to programs and working together as nations so that we don’t produce this kind of bitterness.”
Friends, colleagues, organizations and (of course) politicians took to Twitter to congratulate the various honourees.
Established in 1967, the Order of Canada recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. Over 6,000 people have been invested into the order since its creation.
Officers of the Order of Canada
The Honourable Jean-Louis Baudouin, Montréal, Quebec
Baudouin has been a professor at Université de Montréal for over 25 years, a judge at the Quebec Court of Appeal for 20 years, and is one of the principal architects of the reform of the Civil Code of Quebec.
Deborah Cook, Dundas, Ontario
A Canada Research Chair and professor of clinical epidemiology and biostatistics at McMaster University. Cook has improved the way hospitals provide care for critically ill patients around the world.
Frederick (Fred) William Gorbet, North York, Ontario
This is a promotion within the Order. Gorbet is an expert in public policy issues who designed a new academic stream for financial services and created a national research program in financial services and public policy at York University’s School of Business.
Shaf Keshavjee, Toronto, Ontario
The director of the Toronto Lung Transplant Program and the surgeon-in-chief of the University Health Network. Currently, he is developing stem cell and gene therapy strategies to further revolutionize the field of organ transplantation.
Richard (Rick) Vincent Mercer, Toronto, Ontario
Canadians know him best through his roles on This Hour has 22 Minutes, Made in Canada and The Rick Mercer Report, but Mercer is also a leading advocate for the arts and a spokesperson for numerous charitable endeavours.
The Honourable Peter Milliken, Elginburg, Ontario
As the longest-serving speaker of the House in Canadian history, Milliken made several landmark rulings and set procedural precedents. Since retiring from politics, he has served his community through his involvement with historic and heritage organizations.
Sarah Polley, Toronto, Ontario
Polley first endeared herself to audiences as a child actor, notably in the popular television series Road to Avonlea. After landing leading roles in several art house successes, she turned her focus to filmmaking. Her feature films have garnered national and international acclaim.
Nancy Margaret Reid, Toronto, Ontario
A professor and Canada Research Chair at the University of Toronto, Reid is a leader in the Canadian statistical community. Her research is aimed at finding more accurate and efficient methods to deduce and conclude facts from complex data sets, ultimately helping scientists find solutions to specific problems.
Eleanor Wachtel, Toronto, Ontario
This is a promotion within the Order. Wachtel regularly wins praise for her work on CBC Radio’s Writers & Company, and is a mainstay at Canada’s major literary events. In the past five years alone, she has been invited to moderate at book festivals in Amsterdam, Colombia, China, Sri Lanka and Ireland.
Members of the Order of Canada
Caroline Andrew, Ottawa, Ontario
A former dean of social sciences at the University of Ottawa, Andrew co-founded its women’s studies program and is noted for her research on urban and feminist studies. She has championed civic initiatives that support better immigrant integration, crime reduction and the language rights of Franco-Ontarians.
Jean-Pierre Andrieux, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
For more than 35 years, Andrieux has been amassing original documents and photographs that detail the role Europeans played in the settlement of Newfoundland and Labrador. He has written more than 20 books, in both English and French, on such topics as the cod fishery and rum running.
Wally Buono, Surrey, British Columbia
A seven-time Grey Cup champion, Buono is the Canadian Football League’s winningest coach and one of its longest-serving executives in history. Off the field, he is a noted contributor to the community and is actively involved with a host of charitable and non-profit organizations.
Serge Chapleau, Montréal, Quebec
For the past four decades, Chapleau has been making Canadians laugh with his editorial cartoons. They have been appearing in La Presse for nearly 20 years, and he also creates and donates drawings to support the fundraising campaigns of various charitable organizations.
Brenda Clark, Port Hope, Ontario
Illustrator of the iconic Franklin the Turtle books, Clark’s paintings are noted for their vibrant colours, vivid details and warm appeal. She also supports her peers and has mentored students, notably at Sheridan College, where she funds scholarships.
Tim Cook, Ottawa, Ontario
A pre‑eminent popular historian, Cook is best known for his award-winning books, which illuminate the personal stories of Canadian soldiers and which are widely read by both scholars and non-academics alike. He currently serves as the First World War historian at the Canadian War Museum.
Jean-Guy Desjardins, Montréal, Quebec
Desjardins founded TAL Global Asset Management and Fiera Capital Corporation, two of Canada’s leading independent portfolio management firms. He has served on various boards, including that of the Bank of Canada. He supports numerous organizations and causes, both personally and through his foundation.
Alba DiCenso, Hamilton, Ontario
Professor emeritus at the School of Nursing and the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at McMaster University, DiCenso conducted groundbreaking research that supported the full integration of nurse practitioners into the health-care system.
Anthony N. Doob, Toronto, Ontario
Professor emeritus and a long‑serving director of the Centre of Criminology at the University of Toronto, Doob is highly regarded for his research into the Canadian justice system, particularly on issues related to youth and the effects of sentencing and imprisonment on crime rates.
M. Joanne Douglas, Vancouver, British Columbia
Douglas has helped advance the discipline of obstetrical anesthesiology to improve the quality of care for mothers and their newborns. As a clinical professor at the University of British Columbia and the first woman to head the department of anesthesia at the B.C. Women’s Hospital, she trained countless students.
Louise Dupré, Montréal, Quebec
A leading figure of Quebec poetry, Dupré is also a novelist, playwright, essayist, literary critic and professor. She is renowned as an expert in women’s writing and taught creative writing for 20 years at the Université du Québec à Montréal.
Simon Durivage, Montréal, Quebec
Durivage is a highly respected journalist, news anchor and host. He has worked in the media for over 45 years as an anchor for Radio-Canada and the TVA network, also appearing on Le Point, Consommateurs avertis and Le Club des Ex.
David K. Elton, Calgary, Alberta
As president of the Canada West Foundation, Elton ensured that national policy debates included a western Canadian perspective. In addition to his work as a professor emeritus at the University of Lethbridge, he has been at the helm of several granting foundations in Calgary.
Julia E. Foster, Toronto, Ontario
Foster has served as the chair of the Stratford Festival, the Ontario Arts Council and the National Arts Centre. Beyond the arts, she is the chair of the board of governors at York University and is a trustee of the Hospital for Sick Children.
Raymonde Gagné, Winnipeg, Manitoba
As president of Université de Saint-Boniface, Gagné broadened the range of educational opportunities in French. By developing a cadre of Francophone nurses and helping to establish organizations within her community, she has improved access to health care and social services for Francophones in Manitoba.
Madeleine Gagnon, Montréal, Quebec
Gagnon is a poet, renowned Quebec literary figure and feminist. A former professor at the Université du Québec à Montréal, she has also contributed to a number of literary reviews. Her body of work, which includes stories, essays and novels, has influenced numerous writers and won her acclaim in Canada and abroad.
Serge Gauthier, Hudson, Quebec
Gauthier is a key figure in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia care. A professor at McGill University and the director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Unit at the McGill Centre for Studies in Aging, he co-founded a network to coordinate clinical trials across Canada and published an introductory guide to Alzheimer’s.
Adèle M. Hurley, Toronto, Ontario
Hurley is one of Canada’s leading advocates for the protection of our country’s air and water resources. As a co-founder of the Canadian Coalition on Acid Rain, she led efforts in both Canada and the United States to pass legislation restricting the emissions that cause acid rain.
Chantal Kreviazuk, and Raine Maida, Los Angeles, California, and Toronto, Ontario
As musicians, Kreviazuk and Maida have sold millions of records and achieved critical acclaim as vocalists and songwriters. Together, they have worked to raise awareness and support for numerous causes including human and animal rights, education, mental health and the environment.
Normand Laprise, Mont-Royal, Quebec
A pioneer of Quebec gastronomy, Laprise is the Relais & Châteaux Grand Chef of Toqué!, one of the most highly acclaimed restaurants in Canada, as well as the co-owner of Brasserie T! He serves as the spokesperson for La Tablée des Chefs, which developes food knowledge and autonomy among underprivileged youth.
Suzie LeBlanc, Verdun, Quebec
LeBlanc is a soprano who has been bringing early-period music to audiences for nearly 30 years. She has recently been exploring French melodies, contemporary music and Acadian folk music. She is also the co-founder and artistic director of Le Nouvel Opéra, which offers workshops and produces Baroque stage works.
Michael I. M. MacMillan, Toronto, Ontario
MacMillan co-founded Atlantis Films during his final year of university, steered its growth into a major player and eventually became the chair and CEO of this North American industry giant. Currently at the helm of Blue Ant Media, he also co-founded Samara, a charitable organization that fosters political participation.
Susan McGrath, Toronto, Ontario
A leading advocate for marginalized people, McGrath directed York University’s Centre for Refugee Studies and led its transformation into one of the world’s premier locations for forced migration studies.
Jeremy Nichol McNeil, London, Ontario
McNeil has published landmark studies exploring the survival and reproductive abilities of insects. He is the foreign secretary of the Royal Society of Canada and a former president of the International Society for Chemical Ecology.
Robert Mellin, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador and Montréal, Quebec
Mellin is an architect who has undertaken extensive and award-winning work in restoring buildings in urban and rural settings in Newfoundland and Labrador. Also a professor at McGill University, he has authored publications on restoration best practices and on the development of modern architecture.
Frank Newfeld, Oakville, Ontario
Newfeld is one of the founding fathers of graphic design in Canada. From illustrating the children’s classic Alligator Pie, to creating the original logo of the Royal Ontario Museum, he helped professionalize the field of graphic design. He has influenced generations of students.
Alexander Peter Pauk, Toronto, Ontario
A conductor and composer, Pauk directs the only full-sized orchestra in this country exclusively devoted to performing new music. He founded Esprit Orchestra in 1983, to help revitalize a stagnating contemporary music scene.
Michael Phillips, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
Following his studies in psychiatric medicine and epidemiology, Phillips travelled to China, where he has been a mental health researcher and clinician for three decades. He recently served as the director of the Suicide Research and Prevention Center at the Shanghai Mental Health Center.
John Carman Ricker, Toronto, Ontario
Building on his experiences as a secondary school teacher, Ricker wrote or edited more than a dozen school textbooks that engaged students by combining up-to-date scholarship content with an entertaining style. He went on to become dean of the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Education.
Gary Slaight, Toronto, Ontario
Slaight is now president and CEO of Slaight Communications Inc. and Slaight Music. He has fostered emerging artists and sponsored various cultural initiatives. He also oversees the Slaight Family Foundation, which supports a diverse range of humanitarian causes both in Canada and abroad.
Constance Sugiyama, Toronto, Ontario
Current chair of the Hospital for Sick Children, Sugiyama has cemented her reputation as one of Canada’s top merger and acquisition lawyers. A third-generation Japanese Canadian, she was also an advocate for redress for Japanese Canadians interned during the Second World War.
Robyn Tamblyn, Montréal, Quebec
A former nurse practitioner and long-time professor of medicine, epidemiology and biostatistics at McGill University, Tamblyn has contributed to notable advances in patient care. Her pioneering studies have led to the creation of electronic medication alert systems to reduce prescription drug errors.
Jean-Claude Tardif, Montréal, Quebec
Tardif is a professor, cardiologist and director of the Montreal Heart Institute Research Centre. He is known for his work on treatments to reverse the process of atherosclerosis and is a pioneer in using intravascular ultrasound to assess coronary heart disease.
Eric Robert Walters, Guelph, Ontario
Eric Walters is one of Canada’s most prolific children’s book authors. A former teacher and social worker, he also co-founded The Creation of Hope, which introduces Canadian students to volunteerism and aid work by mobilizing them in support of orphans and impoverished children in Kenya.
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