On December 28, 2023, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, announced 78 new appointments to the Order of Canada.
The Order of Canada is one of Canada’s highest honours. It was created in 1967 to honour people whose service shapes our society, whose innovations ignite our imaginations, and whose compassion unites our communities. Its Companions, Officers and Members take to heart the motto of the Order: DESIDERANTES MELIOREM PATRIAM (“They desire a better country”).
Officers of the Order of Canada (O.C.)
The Honourable Steven Lewis Point, O.C., O.B.C. (UBC Chancellor; Peter A. Allard School of Law 1991-1994; Alumnus)
Promoted to Officer of the Order of Canada for his dedicated commitment to reconciliation and esteemed leadership throughout his trailblazing career as a chief, judge and academic, and as the first Indigenous Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.
In addition to being UBC’s 19th Chancellor and BC’s 28th Lieutenant Governor, Mr. Point’s career has included serving as the Director of the First Nations Legal Studies program at the Peter A. Allard School of Law, a provincial court judge and the Chief Commissioner of the British Columbia Treaty Commission, amongst other positions. A double alumnus of UBC, Mr. Point was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from UBC in 2013 for his commitment in the field of law, legal and Aboriginal education, and his leadership in the Indigenous community.
Wenona Giles, O.C. (Alumna, UBC Faculty of Education)
For her significant contributions to refugee and migration studies, and for her efforts to increase access to higher education among those living in refugee camps.
Members of the Order of Canada (C.M.)
Morris Barer, C.M. (Emeritus Faculty Member, UBC Centre for Health Services and Policy Research; UBC School of Population and Public Health)
For his leadership and groundbreaking research in health services policy.
Anne Bassett, C.M. (Alumna, UBC Faculty of Medicine)
For her research and clinical contributions to advancing our understanding of the genetics of schizophrenia, particularly in the identification and characterization of genetic subtypes of the disorder.
Deborah McColl Money, C.M. (Faculty Member, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, UBC Faculty of Medicine)
For her contributions to women’s health, notably in the field of reproductive infectious diseases, as a researcher, clinician, teacher and mentor.
Carol Anne Lee, C.M., O.B.C. (Board Member, UBC Properties Trust; Alumna)
For her transformational leadership and business acumen, and for her commitment to the revitalization of Vancouver’s Chinatown.
Linda M. Perry, C.M. (Alumna, UBC Faculty of Education)
For her visionary leadership at Vela Canada, and for her transformational advocacy on behalf of people living with disabilities.
André Picard, C.M. (UBC Doctor of Letters, honoris causa)
For his dedication to advancing public health understanding and practices in Canada as a leading health journalist and bestselling author.