Order of Canada
Officers
Pamela Geraldine Appelt, O.C.
Oakville, Ontario
Pamela Appelt is an esteemed community leader. The first Black Canadian woman appointed to the Court of Canadian Citizenship, she is dedicated to uplifting Black communities, particularly through her contributions to education initiatives and her mentorship of young leaders. For decades, she has supported initiatives and organizations focused on arts and culture, and on children and families in the Greater Toronto Area and the Jamaican diaspora.
Sylvia Beth Bashevkin, O.C.
Toronto, Ontario
Sylvia Bashevkin is one of Canada’s top scholars of gender and politics. Among the first to study the obstacles facing women in public life, she analyzed the consequences of women’s political participation and has worked to broaden opportunities for diverse people to engage in politics.
Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, O.C.
Toronto, Ontario
Zulfiqar Bhutta is one of the world’s foremost authorities on maternal and child health. His groundbreaking research has guided public health strategies that have reduced mortality and improved the overall well-being of women and children globally. He has been an influential figure in organizations and initiatives supporting work in this field.
The Honourable Janice Charette, P.C., O.C.
Ottawa, Ontario
Janice Charette is a renowned and highly respected former public servant noted for having served twice as clerk of the Privy Council, Canada’s most senior public service role. Her nearly 40-year career is marked by in-depth government expertise, non-partisan leadership, and a steadfast commitment to serving Canadians with integrity and dedication.
Tom Tak Kin Chau, O.C., O.Ont, M.S.C.
Toronto, Ontario
Tom Chau is a revered figure in pediatric rehabilitation engineering. This University of Toronto professor and Bloorview Research Institute distinguished senior scientist is supporting and empowering children with severe disabilities by expanding their access to different communication methods and strategies. He is also a devoted mentor to the next generation of specialists.
Cheryl Forchuk, O.C., O.Ont.
Brantford, Ontario
Cherly Forchuk is an esteemed nurse scientist at the forefront of mental health, poverty and homelessness research in Canada. Her investigations on therapeutic relationships and her groundbreaking Transitional Discharge Model ensure that people experiencing mental illness and homelessness are treated equitably and provided with the necessary resources to rebuild their lives.
Tonya Williams, O.C.
Toronto, Ontario and Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
Tonya Williams is an esteemed actor and passionate advocate for greater access and inclusion of racialized people in film and media. Founder, executive and artistic director of Reelworld Screen Institute and Reelworld Foundation, she helped build a diverse screen industry and has left an indelible mark on Canadian and international entertainment.
Members
Orland Arthur Backstrom, C.M.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Orland Backstrom has been a disability champion for decades. As president and CEO of SCE LifeWorks, he brought Project SEARCH to Canada, which allows high school students with disabilities to access real work placements. He has played a pivotal role in fostering a more inclusive society.
Ronald Joseph Bourgeois, C.M., O.N.S.
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Ronald Bourgeois has dedicated his life to promoting and sharing Acadian culture across Canada. A multidisciplinary artist with a career spanning 40 years, he has distinguished himself in fields as diverse as song, television program and series production, cultural organization coordination and artistic direction for numerous artistic events.
Nicole Bourque-Bouchier, C.M.
Fort McMurray, Alberta
Nicole Bourque-Bouchier is a member of the Mikisew Cree First Nation and a prominent business leader in her community. As the CEO and co-owner of one of western Canada’s top employers, she has advanced the role of women in business and is at the forefront of Indigenous economic development in Alberta.
Pierre Chastenay, C.M.
Shefford, Quebec
Pierre Chastenay is a fixture in science communication in Quebec. Full professor and researcher in science didactics at Université du Québec à Montréal, he first made a name for himself as a television host, including on Télé-Québec’s wildly popular Le code Chastenay. Trained as an astronomer, he has lent his expertise to the Montréal Planétarium for decades and has published several books introducing young people to astronomy.
Fabienne Colas, C.M.
Carignan, Quebec
A leading figure in Canada’s cultural diversity, Fabienne Colas has dedicated herself to promoting diversity and inclusion in film, art and culture, both in Canada and abroad. Through the Fabienne Colas Foundation, she has been a driving force behind the creation of incubators, training programs, events and festivals that have showcased thousands of artists of African descent across North America.
Donald A. Dippo, C.M.
Comox, British Columbia
Donald Dippo is passionate about education equity. For decades, this educator and advocate has increased educational access for children and teachers at home and abroad, from Toronto and eastern Africa to South and Central America. He is also the co-founder of the Borderless Higher Education for Refugees program, based in the Dadaab Refugee Camps.
Nima Gyaltsen Dorjee, C.M.
Calgary, Alberta
For decades, leading engineer and Tibetan human rights activist Nima Dorjee has devoted his time and expertise to the well-being of others. He transformed the University of Calgary’s Schulich School of Engineering internship program into Canada’s largest. Under his leadership as president, the Project Tibet Society has played a pivotal role in the resettlement of more than 1 000 displaced Tibetans in Canada.
Debbie A. Douglas, C.M.
Toronto, Ontario
Debbie Douglas is a policy expert and activist for a more inclusive immigration and refugee system in Canada. Executive director of the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants, she advocates for equity on issues of race, gender and sexual orientation. She has advised numerous provincial committees, including Ontario’s panel on income security reform and the Roundtable on Violence Against Women, and sheds light on the prevalence of violence against migrants and racialized women facing economic challenges.
William Janzen, C.M.
Ottawa, Ontario
For more than 30 years, William Janzen served as director of the Ottawa office of the Mennonite Central Committee Canada. He has influenced government policy development and contributed to refugee resettlement, citizenship, development aid and peace building. He was instrumental in the creation of the Private Sponsorship of Refugees program, which mobilized Canadians to support refugees, notably from Southeast Asia, and marked a turning point in Canada’s immigration policy.
André Bernard Lalonde, C.M.
Ottawa, Ontario
World-renowned gynecologist and obstetrician André B. Lalonde has played a leading role in humanizing maternity care in Canada and abroad. His exemplary leadership has fostered best practices, helped recognize the pivotal role of midwives, introduced birthing rooms in Canada and returned childbirth to the Cree community in Quebec.
Myrna Eunilda Lashley, C.M.
Montréal, Quebec
Myrna Lashley is an important advocate against racial profiling. An associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at McGill University, she is internationally recognized as an authority on cultural psychology and mental health. She has played a vital role in shaping policies, practices and interventions that promote equity, inclusivity and cultural sensitivity. Her commitment to racial justice has helped improve the experiences and outcomes for marginalized groups across Canada.
Pierre Legault, C.M., M.S.M.
Montréal, Quebec
Social entrepreneur Pierre Legault has devoted his career to supporting those in need. Trained as a psychoeducator, he is renowned for using the economy to underpin social and sustainable development. He co-founded several social and environmental organizations helping disadvantaged people, including Moisson Montréal, Quebec’s first food bank, and Renaissance, an innovative enterprise serving as a springboard into the job market for those seeking employment.
Jeanne Brigitte Lehman, C.M.
Edmonton, Alberta
Jeanne Lehman demonstrated vision and leadership by launching initiatives that benefit the community. She founded the settlement and integration agency Francophonie albertaine plurielle (FRAP) and Black Canadian Women in Action, a national bilingual charity with three branches in western Canada. By promoting and empowering Black women and girls, she is improving and enhancing their opportunities.
Karen Levine, C.M.
Toronto, Ontario
Karen Levine is recognized for her four-decade-long career at CBC Radio where her program leadership, groundbreaking documentaries and amplification of women’s voices made an unmistakable and much-heralded impact. She has also been honoured for her book, Hana’s Suitcase, which has educated young readers worldwide about the Holocaust.
Lorin Jean MacDonald, C.M., O.Ont.
Toronto, Ontario
Born with profound hearing loss, Lorin MacDonald is a human rights lawyer and educator championing disability awareness and inclusion. She introduced captioning to remove communication barriers in various academic, legal and theatrical settings. She is a renowned disability leader, and her personal journey and legal advocacy make her an inspirational role model.
Wendy Muckle, C.M.
Ottawa, Ontario
Wendy Muckle advocates equitable access to health care for vulnerable populations. She co-founded Ottawa Inner City Health Inc., to help individuals experiencing challenges with homelessness, mental health and substance use. Her innovative programs, including hospice and trauma-informed care, gained national and global recognition and are emulated around the world.
David Fraser Pelly, C.M., C.D.
Ottawa, Ontario
Passionate about the Arctic since he first experienced the region by canoe, David Pelly has been dedicated to preserving and honouring Indigenous history and customs for decades. Many Inuit elders have entrusted this ethnographer and author with putting their stories of traditional life into writing.
Solomon Ratt, C.M., S.O.M.
Regina, Saskatchewan
Storyteller, educator and author Solomon Ratt is dedicated to preserving and revitalizing the Cree language through his literacy materials and teachings grounded in traditional cultural values. He is a retired associate professor at the First Nations University of Canada, where he helped develop the first bachelor’s degree in Cree language studies. He is a primary contributor to the Cree Literacy Network, and his publications serve as a cornerstone for language education throughout western Canada and beyond.
Sharon Diane Brown Ross, C.M.
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Sharon Ross dedicated her life to serving Canadians, making a significant impact in Nova Scotia and across the country. Her professional work and volunteer efforts exemplify her commitment to social advocacy and inclusion. She played a key role in helping racial people achieve recognition, integrity and equal opportunities within Canadian society.
Ebonnie Rowe, C.M.
Toronto, Ontario
Ebonnie Rowe has been shaping the Canadian music industry for 30 years by supporting emerging female artists through her non-profit, multicultural, multi-genre development program. An esteemed mentor in her field, she provides artists with performance and educational opportunities, as well as a safe space to be vulnerable and build confidence.
The Honourable Claudette Tardif, C.M., A.O.E.
Edmonton, Alberta
Former senator Claudette Tardif has distinguished herself by her exemplary commitment to recognizing and promoting the language rights of Canada’s minority communities and to championing the Canadian Francophonie. As dean of the University of Alberta’s Faculté Saint-Jean, she was actively involved in developing innovative post-secondary academic programs that have since improved access to French education for many Albertans.
Meritorious Service Decorations (Civil Division) - Cross
Alaa Mohamed Murabit, M.S.C.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Physician Alaa Murabit is the founder and president of The Voice of Libyan Women (VLW), a non-profit organization that champions women’s rights and questions the misinterpretation of Islamic teachings to rationalize inequality. Since the creation of VLW during the Arab Spring revolution, she has stepped onto the international stage as an advocate for the inclusion of women and youth in peace processes and conflict mediation.
Meritorious Service Decorations (Civil Division) - Medal
Hannah Claus, M.S.M.
Montréal, Quebec
Caroline Monnet, M.S.M.
Montréal, Quebec
Nadia Myre, M.S.M.
Montréal, Quebec
Skawennati, M.S.M.
Montréal, Quebec
Kanien’kehá:ka artists Hannah Claus and Skawennati, and Anishinaabe artists Nadia Myre and Caroline Monnet co-founded daphne, the first Indigenous, artist-run centre in Quebec. The centre supports Indigenous contemporary artists through exhibitions, outreach and residencies. The founders envision daphne as an inclusive gathering space fostering cultural exchange, peace and understanding.
Melissa Lem, M.S.M.
Vancouver, British Columbia
As director of Park Prescriptions for BC Parks Foundation, Dr. Melissa Lem has helped raise awareness of the health benefits of connecting with nature. Under her leadership, this evidence-based initiative has increased opportunities for Canadians to engage with nature and further prioritize their mental and physical well-being.
Si Mei Amy Li, M.S.M.
Toronto, Ontario
Leah Shipton, M.S.M.
Vancouver, British Columbia
In 2013, University of Calgary students Amy Li and Leah Shipton co-founded Outrun the Stigma to raise awareness and acceptance of mental health and illness, and to support their student community. Through this initiative, they were able to donate over $200 000 to Distress Centre Calgary to enhance the ConnecTeen crisis support line.
Gurdeep Singh Pandher, M.S.M.
Whitehorse, Yukon
Bhangra artist and educator Gurdeep Pandher harnesses the power of social media and community events to spread joy and hope, and to champion inclusion through dance. His dance videos, set against the backdrop of Canada’s beautiful natural landscapes, have sparked conversations about community well-being and diversity, reaching millions of viewers worldwide.
Marcella Sunshine, M.S.M.
Fishing Lake First Nation, Saskatchewan
Marcella Sunshine founded Visionary Youth Peers for Equity and Revitalization, a youth-led organization that fosters cultural revitalization in Indigenous communities across British Columbia. Thanks to her dedicated leadership, the organization has helped younger generations come together and strengthen access to ancestral knowledge and traditions.
Polar Medal
Alestine Andre
Whitehorse, Yukon
Gwichya Gwich’in Elder Alestine Andre has advanced public understanding of the North through her lifelong dedication to documenting, preserving and revitalizing Gwich’in traditional knowledge, oral history and land-based practices. As a leader at the Gwich’in Social and Cultural Institute, she was instrumental in language renewal efforts and cultural heritage research, which have advanced understanding and respect for ethnobotany, archaeology and place-name documentation. Her contributions have ensured these traditions are protected for future generations.
Martha Koneak Greig
Kuujjuaq, Quebec
Elder Martha Koneak Greig has devoted herself to the well-being of her community. In her many roles, including that of social worker, she has consistently supported healing among individuals of all ages in Kuujjuaq and the broader Nunavik region. By sharing her own story as a residential school Survivor, she has brought international attention to the struggles of other Survivors and their successive generations. Her advocacy has helped elevate reconciliation discussions globally, contributing to the papacy issuing a formal apology to Indigenous peoples.
Ingrid Diana Kritsch
Sherwood Park, Alberta
Ingrid Diana Kritsch is a cultural anthropologist whose career has focused on preserving and promoting Gwich’in traditional knowledge in the Canadian subarctic region. As the founding executive director of the Gwich’in Social and Cultural Institute, she collaborated with Indigenous communities in ways that honoured and amplified their leadership. She later served as research director, overseeing heritage research, policy development and documentation of oral history. She has been named an honorary Gwich’in for her extraordinary commitment to the culture and region.
Gary Norman Wilson
Prince George, British Columbia
Dr. Gary Norman Wilson is a professor at the University of Northern British Columbia who has focused his educational career on Inuit self-governance, regional autonomy and multi-level governance in the North. He has also written extensively on these subjects throughout his tenure. His advocacy for Indigenous leadership extends beyond traditional education to the international stage, where he has actively served on the board of the International Arctic Social Sciences Association and notably co-convened one of its global conferences.
Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers
Shirley Anne Hunter
Victoria, British Columbia
For more than two decades, Shirley Hunter has helped the most vulnerable members of her community. Through her commitment to the Medewiwin House, she ensures that they have access to affordable housing and essential resources. She has also raised funds for the Salvation Army and the Victoria Hospital Foundation.
Videsh Kapoor
Vancouver, British Columbia
Videsh Kapoor is dedicated to improving health care and quality of life in underserved regions of the world. Through the Global Health Initiative at the University of British Columbia, she trains and leads students participating in various health education projects in countries like India, Nepal, Kenya and Bhutan.
Master Corporal Ron Orien, C.D. (Retired)
Ottawa, Ontario
Since 2010, Ron Orien has been lending his skiing expertise to Canadian Adaptive Snowsports, where he helps people with disabilities and injuries enjoy winter sports. His dedication has helped students gain confidence, develop skills and foster connections, making him an invaluable asset to the program.
Kimberly Tynn K. Pak
Markham, Ontario
For nearly 20 years, Kimberly Pak has imbued youth with practical leadership and life skills as a volunteer with the 11th Toronto Scouts Group. In partnership with the Toronto Jaffray Chinese Alliance Church, she leads engaging programs grounded in Christian values.
Jason Rivest
Saint-Jacques, Quebec
For nearly 15 years, Jason Rivest has been volunteering with organizations and co-operatives. Recognized as a promising young leader in Canada and internationally, he has used his administrative talents to serve the community, notably at the Maison des jeunes de Crabtree and in school-based co-operatives, engaging the public to improve services and effectively address the community’s needs.