On December 31, 2025, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, announced 80 new appointments to the Order of Canada. We are proud that fifteen of the most recent appointments have ties to UBC, as current and former members of faculty, alumni, honorary degree recipients and a member of the Board of Governors.
The Order of Canada is one of Canada’s highest civilian distinctions. 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”).
Read the full list of recipients here.
Companions of the Order of Canada (C.C.)
The Honourable Rosalie Silberman Abella, C.C. (Honorary Degree Recipient – LLD)
Rosalie Silberman Abella is an icon of Canadian values. Born in a displaced persons camp to Holocaust survivors, she became the first Jewish woman on Canada’s Supreme Court. She set the bar with her landmark constitutional law rulings and shaped equality and human rights worldwide. She is now an esteemed professor at the Harvard Law School.
Raffi Cavoukian, C.C., O.B.C. (Honorary Degree Recipient – LittD)
A beloved songwriter and entertainer, Raffi has dedicated his life to championing children’s rights and well-being. His songs have impacted generations with his message of love, environmental stewardship and social responsibility. As the creator of the Raffi Foundation for Child Honouring, he has shaped our modern discourse to ensure a safe future for the children of the world.
This is a promotion within the Order.
Officers of the Order of Canada (O.C.)
Adele Diamond, O.C. (Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Division of Neuroscience and Translational Psychiatry; Canada Research Chair, Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience – UBC Faculty of Medicine)
Adele Diamond is a groundbreaking researcher and co-founder of the field of developmental cognitive neuroscience. Through collaborations integrating diverse disciplines and her talent for knowledge translation, she has transformed our understanding of early cognitive development and the brain’s prefrontal cortex. She has also shaped social policies, and improved medical and educational practices worldwide.
Janice J. Eng, O.C. (University Killam Professor; Canada Research Chair, Dept of Physical Therapy – UBC Faculty of Medicine; Alum, UBC Faculty of Medicine)
Janice Eng is an international leader in neurological rehabilitation. Through her influential research, she has advanced treatments and shaped clinical practice worldwide, notably in the delivery of upper and lower extremity recovery after stroke. She has improved the quality of life for thousands of patients in Canada and beyond.
Judy Illes, O.C. (Professor of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Associate Faculty School of Population and Public Health, Director, Neuroethics Canada – UBC Faculty of Medicine; Associate Faculty, School of Journalism – UBC Faculty of Arts)
Judy Illes is a distinguished university scholar at the University of British Columbia and director of Neuroethics Canada. An esteemed mentor and collaborator, she has made groundbreaking contributions to biomedical ethics and neuroscience, and is a proponent of Indigenous knowledge as a vital source for reframing Western medicine.
This is a promotion within the Order.
Marina Andrea Graefin von Keyserlingk, O.C. (Professor, Applied Biology, Director, UBC Dairy Education and Research Centre – UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems; Alum, UBC Faculty of Agriculture)
Marina von Keyserlingk, a UBC professor and global leader in animal welfare science, has transformed the way people think about farm animals. Her influential work has guided animal agriculture towards meaningful change worldwide. As a dedicated mentor, she has established a legacy of leadership and innovation within her field.
Members of the Order of Canada (C.M.)
Kim Ruth Brooks, C.M. (Former Assistant Professor, UBC Faculty of Law; Alum, UBC Faculty of Law)
Kim Brooks is a tax lawyer, professor and human rights advocate who has advanced equity, accessibility and freedom of gender expression in higher education. As president of Dalhousie University, she champions Nova Scotia and is a thoughtful voice for inclusive leadership, transformative education and research that builds Canada’s future.
Michelle Frances Good, C.M. (Alum, UBC Faculty of Arts and UBC Faculty of Law)
Michelle Good is a member of the Red Pheasant Cree Nation who is esteemed for her work as an activist, lawyer and storyteller. A survivor of the Sixties Scoop and the intergenerational trauma of the residential school system, she has confronted laws that continue to hurt Indigenous communities and advocates reconciliation, truth and respect.
Gillian Kydd, C.M. (Alum, UBC Faculty of Science)
Educator Gillian Kydd has reshaped how children learn and how teachers think about learning. She is the co-founder of the Open Minds/Beyond the Classroom Network, which takes teachers and students out of the classroom and into the community for week-long, hands-on experiences. Her innovative approach has inspired and engaged educators and thousands of participants, fostering curiosity and lifelong learning across Canada.
Leonard Schein, C.M. (UBC Board of Governors)
Leonard Schein is a cultural leader and philanthropist. He founded Festival Cinemas, the Vancouver International Film Festival, and Alliance Atlantis Cinemas. He has contributed to various boards related to the arts, community, business, environment and health care, and his Schein Foundation supports dozens of organizations, charities and social impact initiatives.
Nardwuar the Human Serviette, C.M. (Alum, UBC Faculty of Arts)
Nardwuar the Human Serviette is a music journalism and popular culture innovator. As an independent music, and campus and community radio advocate, he has helped shape our identity, while also earning a devoted global following through his distinctive interview style, tireless research, and support for rising stars and celebrated names.
Karl Tomm, C.M. (Former Resident, UBC Faculty of Medicine)
Karl Tomm has played a pivotal role in shaping the field of family therapy. His groundbreaking frameworks of interpersonal patterns and interventive interviewing have significantly influenced therapy practices for helping families. For decades, he has provided mentorship and compassionate care as a psychiatrist, university professor and founder of the Calgary Family Therapy Centre.
Ziya Tong, C.M. (Alum, UBC Faculty of Arts)
Ziya Tong, a broadcaster, author, science journalist and filmmaker, is dedicated to making science accessible. This respected environmental advocate highlights urgent issues like the climate crisis and wildlife conservation while promoting actionable solutions. A long-serving member of various boards and organizations, she remains committed to advancing awareness and animal rights through education and media.
Barry Truax, C.M. (Alum, UBC Faculty of Arts)
Barry Truax is a leading authority in acoustic communication and electroacoustic music. This professor emeritus at Simon Fraser University created innovative tools and techniques used in his genre-defining compositions such as Riverrun (1986). As an original member of the World Soundscape Project, he has made significant contributions to acoustic ecology.
John Mark Willinsky, C.M. (Former Pacific Press Professor of Literacy & Technology, Distinguished University Scholar, Founder of the Public Knowledge Project – UBC Faculty of Education)
John Willinsky has devoted his academic career to fostering public access to research. Underwritten by his scholarship on learned publishing, the Public Knowledge Project he founded has developed the world’s most widely deployed scholarly publishing platform, used by journals in 150 countries and 60 languages to publish freely accessible research.