Governor General Honors Order of Canada Recipients

OTTAWA — Governor General Mary Simon honored a diverse group of Canadians, including a former Supreme Court justice, a medical innovator, a prominent broadcaster and an advocate for sex workers, during a ceremony at Rideau Hall on Friday.

The event recognized individuals for their significant contributions to the nation across fields such as law, health care, arts, media and social justice. Among the honorees, Rosalie Silberman Abella received the highest distinction as a companion of the Order of Canada. Abella, who served on the Supreme Court of Canada from 2004 to 2021, was acknowledged for her influential rulings on constitutional law and her global efforts to advance equality and human rights. Her work has shaped legal precedents on issues including discrimination, labor rights and Indigenous rights, leaving a lasting impact on Canadian jurisprudence.

Three individuals were invested as officers of the Order: Lee Edward Errett, Frances Marjorie Shaver and George Stroumboulopoulos. Errett, a pioneer in cardiac care, developed groundbreaking techniques in interventional cardiology during his career at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto. His innovations have improved treatments...