Member of the Order of Canada

• Awarded on: May 8, 2003
• Invested on: October 24, 2003

Donald MacDonald has spent a lifetime working for the well-being of others. A member of provincial parliament (MPP) for nearly three decades and party leader for 17 years, he played a significant role in the rise of the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF)/New Democratic Party (NDP) in Ontario and provided a strong voice for the political left. He was instrumental in establishing permanent funding for community health centres in the province and was a compelling advocate for freedom of information legislation and civil liberties. As a community activist, he has served extensively with organizations such as York Community Services and the Learning Enrichment Foundation.