Order of Canada Investiture Ceremony

Created in 1967, the Order of Canada, one of our country’s highest civilian honours, recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community, and service to the nation.

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada, invested 3 Companions, 12 Officers and 30 Members into the Order of Canada during a ceremony at Rideau Hall.

The Order of Canada’s motto is DESIDERANTES MELIOREM PATRIAM (“They desire a better country”). Indeed, the contributions of those invested into the Order of Canada on May 10, 2018, are varied, yet they have all enriched the lives of others and made a difference to this country.

Alan Doyle is one of Newfoundland’s most beloved musical ambassadors. As the lead singer of Great Big Sea, as well as through his solo work which includes studio recordings and arrangements for television and film, he has helped revitalize and popularize traditional Newfoundland folk music for new generations. Born in the small town of Petty Harbour, he remains deeply committed to his roots, and has been consistently supporting multiple charities throughout the province and across Canada for more than two decades.

Dancer, choreographer, educator and filmmaker, Chantal Caron roots her artistic process in the environment. She leads Fleuve | Espace danse, a contemporary dance company whose creations highlight our natural heritage, particularly the St. Lawrence River. She blends choreography and film, creating moving works that juxtapose dancers with the surrounding environment. Keen to generate a collective interest in nature through dance and movement, she has also run a dance school in her community for over 30 years.

Howard Shore’s musical genius is behind numerous productions that have captivated audiences around the world. An original member of the band Lighthouse, and the co-creator and first music director of “Saturday Night Live,” he is a celebrated composer and conductor whose repertoire includes compositions for more than 80 feature films, concert works and documentaries. Notably, his monumental and beloved score for the Lord of the Rings trilogy earned him numerous accolades, including three Academy Awards. Proud of his Canadian heritage, he often returns to mentor and support emerging artists.

Known for his leadership skills both on and off the ice, hockey legend Mark Messier is considered one of the greatest players of all time. A 26-year NHL veteran, six-time Stanley Cup winner and the only player to lead two different teams to league championships, he is renowned for his perseverance and for his ability to bring people together in pursuit of a common goal. He contributes to various charitable causes and community programs, notably The First Shift, which aims to make hockey accessible to all kids.

Joseph Arvay has helped shape our understanding of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. A prolific litigation lawyer, he has appeared before the Supreme Court myriad times and served as counsel in numerous cases of landmark importance, such as physician-assisted suicide, safe injection sites, LGBTQ rights and Indigenous land claims, often on a pro bono basis. With keen legal acumen and dedication to social justice, he has played an unparalleled role in shaping the interpretation of the law on matters of civil rights and liberties.

Cornelia Hahn Oberlander is considered one of the world’s most influential leaders in landscape architecture. For over 60 years, she has created environments where grace and pragmatism intertwine to benefit people of all ages. With ongoing and conscientious effort, she imagines and promotes socially conscious and environmentally responsible designs. At the height of her craft, she continues to renew her practice while expressing a lifelong passion for the natural world. (This is a promotion within the Order.)

Victoria Kaspi is making the stars in our observable universe a little less mysterious. A professor of astrophysics at McGill University, she is one of the world’s pre-eminent experts on neutron stars—incredibly dense objects that form following the collapse of massive stars. Her discoveries of the unique features of these stars have brought renown to Canada and have advanced scientific understanding of the nature and boundaries of matter. Concurrently, her leadership of key institutions has helped build our national research capacity in such fields as cosmology, astronomy and astrobiology.

Robert Joseph is a residential school survivor who has become a passionate champion of healing and reconciliation. A hereditary chief of the Gwawaenuk First Nation, he is the founder and ambassador of Reconciliation Canada, an organization that fosters strengthened relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in communities across Canada. He played an active role in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as an honorary witness. An eloquent, authoritative and respected voice, he is a leader in opening dialogue and renewing relationships.