• Deceased
• Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Order of Canada

• Officer of the Order of Canada

  • Awarded on: July 11, 1988
  • Invested on: November 08, 1988

  Interrupting a distinguished diplomatic career to become the Commissioner of official languages for seven years, he did a remarkable job of monitoring policies on bilingualism and biculturalism and evaluating the progress achieved by governments, educational institutions, and the private sector. He then returned to the world of diplomacy as Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg and is now continuing to serve his country as Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

• Companion of the Order of Canada

  • Awarded on: April 15, 1999
  • Invested on: September 23, 1999

  As Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, he was instrumental in orchestrating important changes to legislation and he played a major role in the creation of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal People. Currently a member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee, he continues to dedicate himself to promoting equality and strengthening rights and freedoms of people everywhere. (This is a promotion within the Order)