This year’s list of recipients appointed to the Order of Canada was finally revealed on Wednesday, showcasing a select group of Canadians who’ve made lasting contributions to their communities.
“Members of the Order of Canada are builders of hope for a better future,” Gov. Gen. Mary Simon said in a news release. “Each in their own way, they broaden the realm of possibilities and inspire others to continue pushing its boundaries.”
Established in 1967, more than 8,000 Canadians have been appointed to the country’s highest order.
This year will see 88 new appointments, including top university professors and one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
Here’s a look at some of the most notable names this year.
Ryan Reynolds, O.C., O.B.C.
Best known for his on-screen presence that captivated worldwide audiences, Reynolds has supported Canadian causes including Water First Education, Covenant House Vancouver and Sick Kids Foundation, and co-founded initiatives to increase opportunities for under-represented groups.
Maureen Ann Jennings, O.C
An author known for her historical crime novels, which led to the long-running Canadian TV show Murdoch Mysteries, Jennings is a mentor to fellow writers and received the Grandmaster Award from Crime Writers of Canada.
Scott Oake, C.M., O.M.
A longtime sports broadcaster for CBC Sports, Sportsnet and Hockey Night in Canada, Oake is an advocate for addiction recovery. He also co-founded the Bruce and Anne Oake Memorial Foundation and the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre, which serve marginalized populations across Canada.
Steve Murphy
A former CTV News anchor, Murphy’s regional and national broadcasting career earned recognition as the top-rated dinnertime newscast in the Maritimes. He the host of the Christmas Daddies and annual IWK Telethon for Children fundraisers.
Pinchas Gutter, C.M.
Gutter is a renowned Holocaust educator, recognized for his promotion of transformational dialogue on human rights and revered for his volunteer service. He has been featured in the virtual reality films that expose the horrors of the concentration camps, and his memoir is taught in classrooms across Canada.
Christiane Rousseau, O.C., O.Q.
Christiane Rousseau was the driving force behind the International Year of Mathematics of Planet Earth in 2013, which highlighted the role of mathematics in tackling global challenges. She lobbied UNESCO to have March 14 declared the “International Day of Mathematics,” which she is working to have celebrated in every school on the planet.
Randy Lennox, O.C.
A leader of prominent music, media and entertainment companies such as Universal Music Canada and Bell Media, Lennox created innovative businesses dedicated to showcasing Canadian talent on the international stage.
Here is the full list:
Companion
Pierre Boivin — Montreal (This is a promotion within the order.)
Officers
Stephen Aaron Arshinoff — Toronto
Sylvia Beth Bashevkin — Toronto
Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta — Toronto
Ronald Frank Burnett — Vancouver (This is a promotion within the order.)
Stan Douglas — Vancouver
Dafna Debora Gladman — Toronto
Carlton Lloyd Gyles — Guelph, Ont.
Nada Jabado — Montreal
Maureen Ann Jennings — Toronto
Dominique Alice Lemieux, O.C. (deceased) — Saint-Etienne-de-Bolton, Que.
Randy Lennox — Oakville, Ont.
Tania Murray Li — Toronto
Marco Antonio Marra — Vancouver
David Richard McCann — Vancouver
Jeffrey John McDonnell — Vernon, B.C.
Derek Muir — Grimsby, Ont.
Stanley Nattel — Montreal
General Walter John Natynczyk (retired) — Hartington, Ont.
Lesley E. Paulette — Smith’s Landing First Nation, Fitzgerald, Alta.
Heather Rankin — Mabou, Cape Breton, N.S.
Ryan Reynolds — Vancouver and New York
Christiane Rousseau — Mont-Saint-Gregoire, Que.
Tricia Catherine Smith — Vancouver (This is a promotion within the order.)
George A. Trusler — Toronto
Members
Ruth Elsie Abernethy — Wellesley, Ont.
Donald Alder — Vancouver
Vincent Asselin — Montreal
Orland Arthur Backstrom — Winnipeg
Louise A. MacCallum and Michael A. Barnstijn — Guelph, Ont.
Barry Kenneth Blanchard — Canmore, Alta.
John Anthony Boeckh — Westmount, Que.
Nicole Bourque-Bouchier — Fort McMurray, Alta.
Maureen Constance Boyd — Ottawa
Sandy Howard Buchman — Toronto
James Kevin Cameron — Lethbridge, Alta.
David A. Chitayat — Toronto
Stacy Churchill — Toronto
Colin Roswell Clarke — Oakville, Ont.
Fabienne Colas — Carignan, Que.
Felix J. E. Comeau — Mississauga, Ont.
Carol Ann Cowan-Levine — Toronto, Ontario
Donald A. Dippo — Comox, B.C.
Mariette Doduck — Vancouver
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif — Montreal
Morna Edmundson — Vancouver
Roy Douglas Elliott — Elliot Lake, Ont.
Pyarali Gulamani Nanji — Toronto
Pinchas Gutter — Toronto
Daniel A. Haas — Toronto
Aura Kagan — Thornhill, Ont.
Jean-Pierre Kingsley — Ottawa
Isolde Lagace — Montreal
Andre Bernard Lalonde — Ottawa
Jeanne Brigitte Lehman — Edmonton
Karen Levine — Toronto
John Donald Longhurst — Winnipeg
Irving Ludmer — Montreal
Lorin Jean MacDonald — Toronto
Kevin Ray Martin — Edmonton
Louis Menard — Montrea
Kenneth Leslie Mould — Winnipeg
Wendy Muckle — Ottawa
Steve Murphy — Halifax
Vijayakumar Murty — Toronto
Scott Oake — Winnipeg
Barbara Jean Perry — Oshawa, Ont.
Diane Marie Pitre — Campbellton, N.B.
Michael J. Prince — Victoria
Julia Berger Reitman — Montreal
Bernard Paul Richard — Cap-Pele, N.B.
Richard Rose — Toronto
Greg Ryan — Toronto
Chloe Sainte-Marie — Montreal
Guy Saint-Jacques — Saint-Lambert, Que.
Walter Schneider — Toronto
Joseph A. Schwarcz — Montreal
Charles Clayton Scott — Banff, Alta.
Sam D. Shemie — Montreal
Diane Patricia Helen Sims — Stratford, Ont.
Valerie Sue Tarasuk — Toronto
Tirajeh Tehranchian — Toronto
Gabriel David Tuccaro — Fort Chipewyan, Alta.
Jean Turmel — Montreal, Que.
Ajay K. Virmani — Oakville, Ont.
Allan Douglas George Wade — Duncan, B.C.
Mark Zuehlke — Victoria
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With files from The Canadian Press