Order of Canada Investiture

The Governor General, who is Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order, presented 32 recipients with their insignia of membership during an investiture ceremony at Rideau Hall. She is surrounded here by one Companion, 10 Officers and 21 Members who were invested on Friday, February 17, 2006.

The Governor General of Canada presided at an Order of Canada investiture ceremony at Rideau Hall on Friday, February 17, 2006.

Richard E. Taylor, C.C. Stanford, California, U.S.A. and Medicine Hat, Alberta

Richard Taylor has helped to usher in a new era of high energy physics. A graduate of the University of Alberta in the early 1950s, he continued his studies at Stanford University. After earning his doctorate there, he became a key member of an elite group of scientists who worked on the construction of its linear accelerator centre. Over the years, he helped to develop progressively sophisticated synchrotrons and conducted various electron scattering experiments that led to the discovery of the quark model in particle physics. In 1990, his ground-breaking research earned him the Nobel Prize for Physics and his international eminence as a scientist remains undisputed.

The Governor General of Canada presided at an Order of Canada investiture ceremony at Rideau Hall on Friday, February 17, 2006.

Lorne A. Babiuk, O.C., S.O.M. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Lorne Babiuk's contributions to the control of infectious diseases have had a profound impact on the health and productivity of livestock. Professor of Veterinary Microbiology at the University of Saskatchewan, he is an international expert in veterinary virology and immunology. As director of the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), he has been instrumental in the design, development and commercialization of several innovative products. Under his leadership, VIDO has become one of Canada's pre-eminent research institutions. Widely sought for his expertise, he has served on numerous national and international committees as well as on the board of several biotechnology companies.

The Governor General of Canada presided at an Order of Canada investiture ceremony at Rideau Hall on Friday, February 17, 2006.

Judith Clare Thompson, O.C. Toronto, Ontario

A unique voice in Canadian dramatic literature, Judith Thompson is one of our distinguished playwrights. She burst onto the scene in 1980 with The Crackwalker, and her plays have since been translated into several languages and have won many awards. Her works are known for their masterful dialogue and characterization, and the darkness she explores is treated with such exuberance, intelligence and even humour that one is left with a profound sense of hope. She has been called a jewel in Canada's crown and has made a powerful and lasting contribution to theatre in this country and abroad.

The Governor General of Canada presided at an Order of Canada investiture ceremony at Rideau Hall on Friday, February 17, 2006.

Dominique Demers, C.M. Montreal, Quebec

Communicator, novelist and script writer, Dominique Demers is known above all as one of our leading authors of literature for young people. Some of her books, such as Valentine Picotée and Marie-Tempête, have been enormously popular and have won many awards. Her humour and ability to address delicate subjects in an intelligent, discerning way shine through in her work. A truly passionate writer, she has also done the screenplays, based on her novels, for some popular movies, including La Mystérieuse mademoiselle C. This former journalist and university researcher is a much sought-after speaker and she is known for her ardent respect for children and the importance of reading.

The Governor General of Canada presided at an Order of Canada investiture ceremony at Rideau Hall on Friday, February 17, 2006.

Charles Joseph Jago, C.M. Prince George, British Columbia

President and vice-chancellor of the University of Northern British Columbia, Charles Jago has steered the University's development into a major centre of teaching and research. He has worked to empower people in rural and First Nations communities through education. Among his many accomplishments is the creation of the Northern Medical Program to respond to a critical shortage of health care professionals in the North. His passion for the North led him to become one of the region's most respected advocates.

The Governor General of Canada presided at an Order of Canada investiture ceremony at Rideau Hall on Friday, February 17, 2006.

Ranee Lee, C.M. Brossard, Quebec

A dancer, actress and musician, Ranee Lee has been blessed with a wonderful voice. Known as one of Canada's most popular jazz vocalists, she is a remarkable and captivating performer with a dazzling stage presence. Throughout her career, she has performed with many jazz greats, toured in America and in Europe and has been featured in prestigious festivals. She has also appeared in several movies and various musicals, such as Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill and Dark Divas, The Musical. As the host of the television series "The Performers", she brought the talent of Canadian jazz musicians to the attention of North American audiences. This highly respected artist also shares her passion for jazz as a vocal instructor at McGill University.