Member of the Order of Canada

• Awarded on: May 8, 2014
• Invested on: September 12, 2014

For his contributions to the advancement of disability law and for his dedication as a jurist.


James Hugessen’s integrity, insight and dedication made him an exemplary member of the Canadian judiciary. A judge who sat on both the Quebec Superior Court and the Federal Court of Appeal, he was also the first Canadian to serve as vice-president of the International Labour Organization’s highest administrative tribunal. When he lost his sight to macular degeneration in the late 1990s, he chose to stay on the Federal Court bench as a trial and case management judge for the remainder of his 36-year career—an inspiration to many Canadians contending with vision loss. He has since established a fellowship in disability law at McGill University.