Member of the Order of Canada

• Awarded on: May 3, 2007
• Invested on: February 22, 2008

Jean Portugal has played a major role in enhancing our collective memory of the Second World War. She had a distinguished career in journalism, serving as a reporter with The Peterborough Examiner and, later, as an editor-in-chief with Maclean Hunter Limited. Following her retirement, she undertook a massive project, interviewing veterans from across Canada and recording their recollections. Her seven-volume anthology entitled We Were There: A Record for Canada serves as an important legacy for future generations.