Officer of the Order of Canada

• Awarded on: April 17, 2024
• Invested on: March 19, 2026

Martha Rachel Friendly, O.C.
Toronto, Ontario

Martha Friendly is a leading figure in Canada's childcare movement. For the past five decades, she has tirelessly advocated an accessible and publicly funded early childhood education and care system, believing it crucial for women's equality nationwide. As executive director and founder of the non-profit Childcare Resource and Research Unit, she has been influential in shaping social policies impacting children, families and women.