Order of Canada Investiture Ceremony

Mary Boyd, C.M. (Mount Stewart, Prince Edward Island) has spent most of her adult life giving a voice to the vulnerable and marginalized in Prince Edward Island. A champion of social justice, she has worked alongside those experiencing poverty, homelessness and unemployment to improve the support networks available to them. She founded the MacKillop Centre for Social Justice to help educate and mobilize the public on the social issues facing Islanders. Her expertise has also benefited such organizations as KAIROS and the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace.

Established in 1967 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Order of Canada is the cornerstone of the Canadian Honours System, and recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. The Order recognizes people in all sectors of Canadian society. Their contributions are varied, yet they have all enriched the lives of others and made a difference to this country.

"Gathered together today, here at Rideau Hall, I hope that you will learn from one another’s diverse talents and experiences," said His Excellency. "Consider how you might work together and exchange ideas to further strengthen Canada. And please remember the Order’s motto: ‘They desire a better country.’ I salute each of you for what you have done in your unique way to make Canada a better place."

The Governor General presided over an Order of Canada investiture ceremony at Rideau Hall, on November 22, 2013. 20 Members, 17 Officers and 1 Companion were recognized for a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community or service to the nation.

One of the most respected administrators in the country, Jacques Ménard, C.C., O.Q. (Montréal, Quebec) is first and foremost an example of civic engagement. Chair of BMO Nesbitt Burns and president of BMO Financial Group, Quebec, he has also increased his charitable and philanthropic involvement in a host of organizations and causes. Dedicated to helping youth in particular, he created an action group and supported various initiatives to keep students in school, decrease dropout rates and promote academic success in Canada. Chancellor of Concordia University, he brings his leadership to organizations and working committees in such fields as economic development, financial literacy, education and health, thereby helping to advance Canadian society. This is a promotion within the Order.

Rick Waugh, O.C. (Toronto, Ontario) has made outstanding contributions to both the Canadian and international banking communities. As chief executive officer of Scotiabank, he helped to steer both the Institute of International Finance and the International Monetary Conference, shaping global best practices among financial institutions. He has also helped to forge economic relations between Canada and other countries, particularly in the Caribbean and Latin America. In addition, he has been a generous benefactor to a number of organizations through the Waugh Family Foundation, including the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

Forty years after launching her business, Lise Watier, O.C., O.Q. (Mount Royal, Quebec) has become one of the most influential businesswomen and a model of determination and generosity. Despite fierce international competition, she has emerged as one of the biggest names in cosmetics in Canada. Moreover, her products, designed and developed in Canada, are known worldwide. She has also distinguished herself as a citizen engaged in her community. Both personally and through her foundation, she lends her support to organizations helping women and children in need to break free from poverty. This is a promotion within the Order.

Michael Franklin Harcourt, O.C. (Vancouver, British Columbia) exemplifies civic engagement to the highest degree. As mayor of Vancouver, and subsequently as premier of British Columbia, he championed sustainable planning. He later served as a member of the National Round Table on the Environment and Economy, and contributed significantly to the dialogue on urban sustainability. A near-fatal accident only reinforced his dedication to improving the lives of others, particularly in the areas of social inclusion, spinal cord injury research and sustainable cities.

Phil Fontaine, O.C., O.M. (Akwesasne, Ontario and Fort Alexander, Manitoba) is a lifelong advocate for First Nations people. Former chief of the Sagkeeng First Nation, he served as grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and, for three consecutive terms, as national chief of the Assembly of First Nations. He successfully established a process for the settlement of specific land claims, employment equity settlements for Aboriginal workers, and the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.

Edward (Eddie) Sydney Schwartz, C.M. (Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A. and Toronto, Ontario) has had a major impact on the world of music. A successful performer in his own right, he has helped to further the careers of many world-famous recording artists as a song writer and producer. He is best known for having written such international hits as “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” and “Special Girl”. He also mentors young Canadian musicians and has shouldered a leadership role as a co-founder of the Songwriters Association of Canada, which advocates for the intellectual property rights of music creators.

Emanuele (Lino) Saputo, C.M., O.Q. (Montréal, Quebec) is renowned for his tremendous generosity. Co-founder of a business specializing in dairy products and cheeses, he has built his company up into a corporation of international standing. For over 30 years, he and his wife have also been managing the Mirella and Lino Saputo Foundation that, over the years, has supported countless organizations related to health, culture and sport.

Former triathlon world champion Leslie McDonald, C.M. (Vancouver, British Columbia) has worked to advance the discipline for over 30 years, establishing governing bodies for the sport at the provincial, national and international levels. Called upon by the President of the International Olympic Committee to bring triathlon to the Games, he operated out of his own home and travelled around the world to organize an international federation that eventually resulted in triathlon’s debut at the 2000 Olympics. His leadership was also marked by a commitment to promoting the participation of women in sport.

Patricia Martens, C.M. (Kleefeld, Manitoba) is committed to improving the health of Manitobans. A professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Manitoba and director of the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, she has conducted groundbreaking studies on the health of Aboriginal persons and people with mental illness, as well as interventions to increase breastfeeding rates, which have guided the work of policy makers in Canada and abroad. She has also convened innovative partnerships between academics, heads of health authorities and government that enable planners to use research in programs and policies to enhance population health.

Their Excellencies are pictured with the recipients that were invested into the Order of Canada on November 22, 2013.