Member of the Order of Canada

• Awarded on: June 29, 2005
• Invested on: November 18, 2005

Allan Carswell is a physicist and entrepreneur whose research pioneered the use of laser radar (lidar) for remote sensing applications, such as monitoring the Arctic ozone layer. As founder and chairman of the board of Optech Inc., he positioned his company as a global leader in the field of lidar technology. Equally committed to the betterment of his community, he has been a generous benefactor to the Toronto East General Hospital and the York University Foundation and serves as a volunteer for an outreach program for the homeless. Professor emeritus at York University, he is a role model for young entrepreneurs and scientists alike, and has made an exemplary contribution to Canadian science and technology.