Member of the Order of Canada

• Awarded on: May 7, 2015
• Invested on: November 18, 2015

For her contributions to spinal cord injury research as an author, speaker and advocate.

Barbara Turnbull was a powerful advocate for people with spinal cord injuries and an inspiration to many Canadians. After being paralyzed from the neck down as a teenager by a shooting in 1983, she went on to study journalism, joined the Toronto Star as a reporter and published two books on living with quadriplegia. Committed to finding a cure for paralysis after spinal cord injury, she created a foundation that has raised significant funds in support of leading-edge research. She also volunteered with Spinal Cord Injury Ontario and Think First Canada.

The insignia presented to the late Ms. Barbara Turnbull will be received by her mother, Ms. Iris Collins.