Governor General Mary Simon announces 83 nominations to the Order of Canada

Governor Gen. Mary Simon announced 83 nominations to the Order of Canada – the list includes doctors, activists, artists and economists.

Simon’s office announced one new Companion — the highest rank of the Order of Canada — 16 Officers, two Honorary Officers and 64 new Members, a preliminary honorary rank in the order. Two of the appointments are promotions within the Order of Canada.

“The Order of Canada rewards individuals who have made a positive and lasting impact on communities in Canada or who have brought honour to our country abroad,” the governor general said in a media statement.

“Congratulations to the new nominees and thanks to the nominators who recognized their achievements, purpose and exceptional talent.”

Pop-punk musician Avril Lavigne became a member of the order to celebrate both her professional successes and her work on behalf of people with serious illnesses and disabilities. The Napanee, Ontario native has spoken openly about her battle with Lyme disease.

Mellissa Fung, acclaimed author, film director and former CBC war correspondent, was awarded the medal for her work on behalf of women and girls in war-torn countries.

Fung was kidnapped in Kabul while covering the war in Afghanistan for CBC in 2008. She described her experiences in her book Under the Afghan Sky: A Memory of Captivity.

Award-winning actress and producer Tina Keeper, who played RCMP officer Michelle Kenidi in the CBC series North of 60is appointed member. Keeper was one of the first Cree members of parliament and is known for her work in Indigenous films and television.

Joyce Napier, a former Canadian Radio journalist and current Canadian ambassador to the Vatican, also became a member of the order for her services to broadcasting and journalism.

Monique Forget Leroux, former president and CEO of Desjardins Group, is the only female companion on the list. The Governor General’s office said she represented Canada on international groups and committees and was the first Canadian president of the International Cooperative Alliance.

Stephen Poloz, a former governor of the Bank of Canada, was appointed an officer. Poloz told CBC News that he went to Queen’s University to become a doctor, but a chance encounter with an economics course in his first year changed his life.

“I chose economics because I thought it was a powerful field that, if done well, could help a lot of people live better lives,” he said.

Poloz, who also served as president and CEO of Export Development Canada, said he was honoured and surprised to learn he would be awarded the Order of Canada.

“I got the call and I was just blown away,” he said. “I was so excited. It was a very proud moment. It really was.”

Longtime child welfare advocate Martha Friendly, who also became an officer, told CBC News she’s “excited” and hopes it will bring attention to her life’s work.

“I have worked in child care my whole life, my whole career,” she said. “I really think (this honor) recognizes that child care is an important issue for Canada right now… This wouldn’t have happened five or seven years ago.”

Madeleine Humer, who was awarded the Order of Canada for her work as a music teacher and children’s choir conductor, said she was unaware that her family and friends were working behind the scenes to ensure she was recognised.

“You hear about these things when you’re younger and you never think you can relate to them,” she said in an interview with CBC News.

She said it was strange to be honored for “waving my hands at kids all day,” but she hopes the recognition shows how important music is in children’s lives.

“It’s about reaching kids in a way that they don’t even know is important to them and seeing that ‘aha’ moment on their faces when they sing and realizing how connected they are to each other, to the organization and to the music that we all create together,” she said.

Pamela Appelt has been appointed an officer of the order. She is a Jamaican-born and well-known community leader and the first black Canadian woman to be appointed to the Citizenship Court of Canada.

“I’ve been working in the community for decades and decades, and I do it because I love it,” she said. “I am truly honored by this distinction.

“For me, this highlights the fact that when you have made a commitment to the country you call home, your adopted country, you have an obligation to give back. For me, Canada opened the door to many aspects of my life to improve.”

She said she hopes her nomination will inspire young people across Canada to get involved in their communities.

“It’s never too early to start making connections in the community and using your talents to do so,” she said.

The famous playwright Colleen Louise Murphy, who also writes operas and directs films, became a member of the order.

She told CBC News she was “quite surprised” to hear she was being honoured for her life’s work “because I work in theatre and I’m a playwright and we don’t really fly in the face.”

“Anything that sheds some light on theater, and especially playwriting, is wonderful,” she said.

Complete list of nominations for the Order of Canada for June 27

Comrades

Monique Forget Leroux (promotion within the Order)

Officers

Yusuf Altintas

Pamela Geraldine Apelt

Marta Rachel Friendly

Mellisa Weronika Fung

Chit Chan Gunn (promotion as part of the Order)

Beverley Jean Johnston

Daniel Gerald Lavoie

Lindsay Machan

Daphne Maurer

Charles M. Morin

Kent George Nagano (honorary nomination)

Jack Cyril Pearpoint

Stephen Shawn Poloz

Kenneth John Rockwood

Frances Estelle Reed Simons

Douglas Wade Stephan

Joseph Straus

Vaira Vike-Freiberga (honorary nomination)

Members

Joe Brock Average

Vickie Elaine Baracos

Christie Marlene Belcourt

David GordonBen

Daniel Georges Bichet

bill bissett

John Allan Cairns

Mark Joseph Cameron

Pierre Chastenay

Edward Herman Cole

John Terry Copp

Father Michael Creal

Budhendranautha Doobaya

Nima Gyaltsen Dorjee

Older Jane Rose Dragon

Marcelle Dubois

Leonard John Edwards.

Lee Edward Errett

Brian Ross Evans

William Anthony Fox

Janine Elizabeth Fuller

Rosemary Burns Ganley

Arnie Gelbart

Franklyn Griffiths

Sylvia D. Hamilton

Madeleine D. Humer.

Jane Knott Hungerford

Captain Sidney Joseph Hynes

William Janzen

Tina Jones

Christina Jean Keeper

Judith M. Kent

William James Gordon Kirby

James Gregory Kyte

Patrick Joseph Lahey

The Right Honourable Susan Elizabeth Lang

Barry Paul Lapointe

Myrna Eunilda Lashley

Avril R. Lavigne

Pierre Legault

Brandt Channing Louie

Bruce A. Lourie

Zoe N. Lucas

Mother Pierre Anne Rosaria Mandato

Bruno Marti

Theresa Helen Matthias

James David Meekison

Richard Kelly Miskokomon

Colleen Louise Murphy

Joyce Napier

Javaid Abbas Naqvi

Robert Panet-Raymond

E. Michael Perley

Dan Poenaru

Linda Rabeneck

Stephen James Randall

Solomon Ratt

Jonathan ScottRose

Bibudhendra Sarkar

Frances Marjorie Shaver

Donald George Simpson

Marvin RV Storrow

Jack Edward Taunton

Charles E. Weaselhead