Member of the Order of Canada

• Awarded on: November 19, 2015
• Invested on: February 12, 2016

For her philanthropic and volunteer contributions, and for her extensive service to educational, cultural and social initiatives.

For decades, Helen Vari has been dedicated to serving her community. Known for her exceptional record in philanthropy and her volunteer engagement, she has been a leading supporter of many educational and cultural institutions. Her generous contributions to several universities in Ontario have advanced the pedagogy of students and helped to change the face of buildings in which students learn. She is also known as a champion of Canada-France relations, once donating thousands of maple trees to Versailles to replace those destroyed by a devastating storm.