Order of Canada Investiture Ceremony

The Right Honourale Michaëlle Jean presided over an Order of Canada investiture ceremony at Rideau Hall on April 7. The Governor General, who is Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order, bestowed the honour on one Companion, 11 Officers and 31 Members. The Order of Canada was created in 1967, during Canada’s centennial year, to recognize a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. Since its creation, more than 5 000 people from all sectors of society have been invested into the Order.

Clara Hughes, Glen Sutton, Quebec and Winnipeg, Manitoba, is an Olympic champion and a compassionate humanitarian who serves as a role model for all Canadians. She performed a feat not yet equalled in Canada when she won medals in both Summer and Winter Olympic Games. After winning her speed skating gold medal in 2006, she announced on live television that she was emptying her bank account and donating $10,000 to Right to Play, an organization that brings sport to children in developing countries. She encouraged others to follow suit, spurring a massive funding drive. She also serves as co-chair of Right to Play’s Canadian advisory board, and as a spokesperson and volunteer for other sporting and environmental groups.

Zachary Richard, Louisiana, U.S.A. and Montréal, Quebec, is one of the most important artists in the North American francophonie. With his music that reflects his Cajun roots, and his moving and spirited lyrics, he has played a key role in strengthening the ties between Cajuns and Acadians by evoking the memory and collective identity they share. He was one of the first musicians to integrate traditional Cajun music into a contemporary musical format. He has recorded albums in English and French, including Cap Enragé, which has become a classic. This ardent defender and promoter of the French language has also increased people’s understanding of Cajun and Acadian history and identity, notably through documentaries and the “Cœurs Batailleurs” television series, which he hosted. Committed to preserving the natural environment in Louisiana and New Brunswick, he also generously supports and gives his time to a number of other causes.

One of Canada’s leading performers of South Asian dance, Lata Pada, Mississauga, Ontario, is also a renowned choreographer and teacher. As the founder and artistic director of a dance company and academy, she has created her own style, a blend of Asian traditions and contemporary genres. Her choreography has touched audiences at home and abroad. She has also conducted workshops at universities, and has shared her passion and knowledge with numerous cultural groups, including the Canadian Dance Assembly. In addition, she is highly regarded for her commitment to the Indian community in Canada.

Willie O’Ree, La Mesa, U.S.A. and Fredericton, New Brunswick, is a hockey pioneer and dedicated mentor to youth who continues to promote the game in communities across Canada and in the United States. He made history as the first Black man to play in the NHL, and had a successful 20-year career despite an injury that left him blind in one eye. He has gone on to become an ambassador for cultural diversity in the league. As the director of youth development for the NHL, he has helped to establish numerous hockey programs for disadvantaged boys and girls all over North America, and has taught them the values of good sportsmanship, teamwork and commitment.

For the last three decades, David Matas, Winnipeg, Matitoba, has been dedicated to defending the rights of society’s most vulnerable members. A lawyer and recognized authority on human rights, immigration and refugee law, he has had a marked impact on the evolution and expansion of these fields in Canada and abroad. He has been a valued advisor and human rights observer for the Canadian government and has been sought out for his expertise by several human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International Canada, the Canadian Council for Refugees and the International Commission of Jurists. Currently, he is a member of the board of directors for Rights and Democracy, and serves as senior legal counsel for B’nai Brith Canada.

Daniel Germain, Boucherville, Québec, has dedicated his life to helping underprivileged children. After growing up in a disadvantaged neighbourhood, he went on humanitarian trips abroad and returned to Canada with the dream of breaking the circle of poverty. With the goal of helping children who were deprived of a vital element for their academic and social success—a nutritious breakfast—he founded the Quebec Breakfast Club. He also established the JeunEstime program to help youth develop better self-esteem. In 2005, the Quebec Breakfast Club was recognized by the United Nations as one of the best school meal programs in the world. Pursuing his goals, he then founded Breakfast Clubs of Canada, launched an international co-operation project for young people in Quebec, and established the Montreal Millennium Summit, an international forum that puts forward ideas and projects related to the well-being of children in the world.

After a fire in the family home, Fred Carmichael, Inuvik, Northwest Territories, spent his youth living off the land and, at 12, he saw an airplane for the first time. He grew up to become the first Aboriginal person in the North to obtain a pilot’s license, and went on to found two successful air transport companies. As a businessman, Native leader and chair of the Aboriginal Pipeline Group, he has been a driving force in obtaining increased autonomy for the Gwich’in and Inuvialuit people. He is legendary for flying volunteer rescue missions and for finding missing people after they had been given up for dead. He is a revered mentor and is highly respected by Native leaders throughout Canada for his innovation, commitment and accomplishments.

"It is an honour to welcome to Rideau Hall and to the Order of Canada artists, community leaders, researchers, world leaders in medicine, lawyers, business people, athletes, politicians, and people who have dedicated their lives to public service or the well being of their community. You work in a wide range of areas, but what brings you together is your willingness to help shape humanity and leave a mark on the world."