Officer of the Order of Canada

• Awarded on: October 23, 2008
• Invested on: April 07, 2010

His determination and ingenuity have helped countless Canadians with disabilities achieve a higher quality of life. Gary Birch is head of the Neil Squire Society, an organization that develops assistive technology and services for people with physical disabilities. Also an adjunct professor of engineering at the University of British Columbia, he has been called Canada's leading researcher in brain-computer interface techniques. He has dedicated himself to finding solutions to everyday problems confronting those with disabilities. A role model and advocate, he has worked provincially and nationally to champion the issues of accessibility and equal opportunity.