Nine McGillians appointed to the Order of Canada
Neuroscientist Alan Evans and music performance scholar Michael McMahon among McGill community members recognized for exceptional accomplishments and service
Nine members of the McGill University community have been appointed to the Order of Canada, one of the country’s highest civilian honours.
Among the honorees are two McGill faculty members, Professors Alan Evans (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences) and Michael McMahon (Schulich School of Music).
Alan Evans is Distinguished James McGill Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery and Psychiatry and a neuroscientist at The Neuro’s McConnell Brain Imaging Centre. He is co-Director of the Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, researcher in the McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Principal Investigator of the Canadian Open Neuroscience Platform (CONP) and Scientific Director of Healthy Brains, Healthy Lives, McGill’s $84 million Canada First Research Excellence Fund project.
Evans is recognized worldwide for pioneering the use of advanced mathematical and computational techniques to study the brain’s structure and function using neuroimaging, particularly in neurodevelopment and neurodegenerative disorders. One of the most highly cited researchers globally, he is a member of the Royal Society of Canada and in 2025 was elected as a Fellow of the U.K.’s Royal Society.
Michael McMahon is an associate professor in McGill’s Department of Music Performance, where he teaches in both the Voice and Piano areas. He has a long-standing association with the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal, Opera Nuova in Edmonton and the Franz Schubert Institute in Austria, and is widely recognized as a leading collaborative pianist, vocal coach and mentor.
McMahon has performed across Canada, Europe and the United States with renowned singers including Maureen Forrester, Catherine Robbin, Karina Gauvin, Gordon Bintner and Philippe Sly. His recordings have earned critical acclaim including multiple Juno nominations and the Prix Opus. In 2012, he was presented with a Ruby Award by Opera Canada in recognition of his contribution to music in Canada.
Seven McGill alumni were also appointed:
- Brian Bronfman, BA’86, LLB’91, BCL’91
- Freda Browns, BA’59, DipEd’60, MEd’78
- Paul Hindo, BEd’80
- Sylvain Martel, MEng’89, PhD’97
- Jacques Parisien, BCL’75
- Peter Leon Rosenbaum, BSc’65, MDCM’67
- Mahash Chandra Sharma, DipEng’68, MEng’72, GrDipMgmt’74, MBA’76
They were among 83 new appointments announced June 30 by Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada.
Appointments to the Order of Canada are made at three levels: Companion, Officer and Member. Officers and Members may be elevated within the Order to recognize further achievement based on continued exceptional or extraordinary service to Canada.
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all members of the McGill community who are newly appointed to the Order of Canada and commend their exceptional contributions and service to Canadian society,” said Deep Saini, President of McGill University.
“Among our faculty, we are also pleased to recognize Professors Alan Evans and Michael McMahon, whose outstanding contributions in neuroscience and music exemplify the depth and impact of McGill’s scholarship in Canada and around the world. Their unwavering commitment to achieving excellence in their fields is an inspiration and makes them richly deserving of this honour.”
Here is the complete list of McGillians’ appointments, accompanied by their official Order of Canada citations:
Officers
Alan Evans, O.C.
Alan Evans has transformed brain imaging research, leading to major breakthroughs in understanding neuronal development, aging and Alzheimer’s disease. The processing tools he developed are now universally used by specialists to analyze group data from both healthy individuals and those with neurological or psychiatric disorders.
Peter Leon Rosenbaum, O.C.
Peter Rosenbaum has transformed child disability care. He is a trailblazer in developmental pediatrics, particularly the care of children with cerebral palsy and their families. His major contributions include the promotion of family-centred service and creation of the internationally adopted Gross Motor Function Classification System, which emphasizes ability over deficits.
Members
Brian Bronfman, C.M., O.Q.
Trained as a mediator, Brian Bronfman is a unifier committed to creating a more just and harmonious society, primarily by strengthening the field of peace. Through both his family foundation and the charitable organization he co-founded, the Peace Network for Social Harmony, he focuses on diversity, inclusion, violence prevention, equity and peace-building as the essential elements for achieving a more peaceful and inclusive society.
Freda Lang Browns, C.M.
Freda Browns is a pillar of Canada’s philanthropic community. For five decades, she has enriched society by supporting cultural, health, education and art organizations in Montreal and beyond. Donations from the distinguished private art collection she established with her late husband, Irwin, can be viewed at museums and institutions across Canada.
Paul Hindo, C.M., C.D.
Paul Hindo is a business leader, entrepreneur and philanthropist. An honorary colonel first with the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa and then the Canadian Army, he contributes to causes supporting the Canadian Armed Forces, health care and education. His business acumen and charitable donations continue to advance Ottawa’s economic and social development.
Sylvain Martel, C.M., C.D.
Sylvain Martel is a world-renowned visionary in the field of medical nanorobotics. A leader in the use of bio nanorobots in medical interventions, he has made contributions to research and innovation that have paved the way for new, less invasive and significantly more effective treatments for difficult-to-access or treatment-resistant cancers.
Michael Kevin McMahon, C.M.
Michael McMahon has significantly impacted Canada’s art song and opera landscape. He is a highly sought-after collaborative pianist and an advocate for raising the status of this art form. An influential vocal coach, esteemed mentor and national and international performer, he has positively influenced the careers of many top-level artists.
Jacques Parisien, C.M.
Jacques Parisien worked in communications for over 40 years. He helped steer the growth of Astral Media’s radio division, positioning the company as one of the largest media enterprises in Canada. A dedicated philanthropist, he has supported several cultural, educational and community organizations, including the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the Pointe-à-Callière Museum.
Mahesh Chandra Sharma, C.M.
Mahesh Sharma is a civic-minded philanthropist and leader. A beloved professor and mentor at Concordia University, he established scholarships to honour the memory of his family who were victims of Air India Flight 182. He also actively champions social causes supporting vulnerable individuals and the wider community.
