Eleven McGillians appointed to Order of Canada
Governor General Michaëlle Jean recently announced 75 new appointments to the Order of Canada, including a number of recipients with significant McGill connections. Established in 1967 as part of the country’s centennial celebrations, the Order of Canada is the nation’s highest civilian honour with recipients chosen for their achievements, dedication to the community and service to Canada. The official ceremony, during which honourees will receive their insignias, will be held later.
Raymond R.J. Moriyama (MArch ’57, Honorary DSc’93) is one of five people who will be promoted to Companion, the highest level within the Order after Officers and Members. Moriyama will be recognized for lifelong contributions to the field of architecture where he has made a name for himself as one of Canada’s most innovative builders.
G. Wallace F. McCain (friend of McGill) will also be made a Companion. The co-founder of McCain Foods Limited and current Chairman of the Board of Maple Leaf Foods Inc., McCain will be honoured for his widespread philanthropy and his visionary leadership in business and industry both at home and abroad.
A quartet of McGillians with wide-ranging expertise has been appointed as Officers of the Order of Canada.
Joan Clark (BA’50 and former sessional lecturer in Intellectual Property Law) is both a pioneer for women in law and a world leader in the laws governing animal protection.
Jean-Marie Dufour (BSc’71), an internationally renowned specialist in econometrics and McGill’s William Dow Professor of Economics, will be recognized for his vast contributions to education and research in the field of economics.
The distinguished public service career of the Honourable Donald J. Johnston (BCL’58, BA’60, Honorary LLD’03) has seen him serve as everything from Liberal Member of Parliament for the riding of Westmount to President of the Liberal Party to a decade-long stint as the Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Finally, filmmaker John N. Smith (BA’64) will be made an Officer in recognition of his contributions to the Canadian film industry with such works as The Boys of St. Vincent, Dieppe and Welcome to Canada.
Five McGill notables were also appointed as Members of the Order of Canada. They include jazz pianist Paul Bley (who graduated from the McGill Conservatory of Music at the age of 11); Businessman and philanthropist Marcel A. Desautels (McGill benefactor, Honorary LLD’07); philanthropist Patrick J. Keenan (BComm’54, CA’57); Can Lit maven Judith Mappin (BSc’50, Honorary DLItt’06); and educator Axel Meisen (PhD’70).
