Eight Western alumni were named among 135 new appointments to the Order of Canada announced on December 29, 2021 by Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada.
Established in 1967, the Order of Canada recognizes individuals whose work has helped shape society, ignite imaginations and unite communities.
“Canada is defined by the people who make up this great country,” Simon said in a statement. “These most recent candidates for the Order of Canada are shining examples of the commitment and exceptional contributions of Canadians to the well-being of communities in this country, be it social, environmental, scientific, economic, cultural or related. to mental and physical health. “
Western alumni appointed to the Order of Canada include:
Navjeet Dhillon, MBA’98, of Calgary for his business accomplishments and for his unwavering commitment to philanthropy and higher education.
Tomson Highway, BMus’75, LLD’93, of Gatineau, Quebec, for his sustained and distinguished contribution to Canadian theater and culture as one of Canada’s foremost playwrights and novelists.
Jean Riley Senft, BA’70, of West Vancouver, British Columbia, for his contributions to the sport of figure skating as one of Canada’s leading judges and promoter of fairer judging rules.
Vahan Kololian, BA’75, of Toronto, for her community leadership and commitment to promoting Canadian diversity and pluralism.
Andrew Paul MacDonald, B.Mus’81, of Sherbrooke, Quebec, for his contributions to contemporary Canadian classical, jazz and electronic music, as an educator, composer and performer.
Joy Kathryn MacPhail, BA’77, of Vancouver, for his pioneering contributions to politics and his tireless advocacy of underserved and marginalized communities.
Sharon Elizabeth Straus, BSc’86, of Toronto, for his contributions to the field of knowledge translation and for his mentorship in the field of epidemiology.
Barbara G. Stymiest, HBA’78, LLD ’11, of Toronto, for his pioneering efforts in Canada’s financial and business sectors, as well as for his mentorship and community involvement.
The Order of Canada is one of Canada’s highest honors, with the motto: Want a better country (They want a better country).
“Evil alcohol lover. Twitter junkie. Future teen idol. Reader. Food aficionado. Introvert. Coffee evangelist. Typical bacon enthusiast.”