Province Honouring the Exceptional Achievements of 47 Ontarians
Press Release
The Order of Ontario is the Province’s Highest Honour
TORONTO — Today, the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and Chancellor of the Order of Ontario, announced 47 new appointments to the Order of Ontario, the province’s highest honour, for 2019 and 2020. The Order of Ontario honours individuals whose exceptional achievements have left a lasting legacy in the province, in Canada, and beyond. Members of the Order of Ontario come from all walks of life, represent diverse fields of endeavour, and have played an important role in shaping the province.
The 2020 Appointees to the Order of Ontario are:
- Daniel Allen
- Joseph Raymond Buncic
- Michael DeGasperis
- Raymond Desjardins
- Ernest Eves
- Hershell Ezrin
- Carlo Fidani
- Karen Goldenberg
- Michael D. Harris
- Ellis Jacob
- Jing Jiang
- Shana Kelley
- André Lapierre
- Dale Lastman
- André M. Levesque
- Peter Liu
- Hazel McCallion
- Arden McGregor
- Janet McKelvy
- George McLean
- Hon. Rosemary Moodie
- Hon. Robert. W. Runciman
- Marilyn Sonley
- Ahmad Reza Tabrizi
- Hon. Karen Weiler
The 2019 Appointees to the Order of Ontario are:
- Melanie Adrian
- Roland “Roly” Armitage
- Allan Carswell
- Helen Ching-Kircher
- John Colangeli
- Nancy Coldham
- Sean Conway
- Clare Copeland
- Barbara Croall
- Lisa Farano
- Geoff Fernie
- Allan Fox
- John Freund
- Susan Hay
- John Jennings
- Marlys Koschinsky
- James W. Leech
- Audrey Loeb
- Dani Reiss
- Janis Rotman
- Linda Silver Dranoff
- Joan Sutton Straus
“As Chancellor of the Order of Ontario, it is with great pride that I congratulate the 2019 and 2020 Order of Ontario appointees,” said Her Honour, Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. “The announcement on January 1 is special. New Year’s Day is a day for reflection, rejuvenation, and re-setting of goals and priorities. We have seen the best of Ontarians this year, and many of these new appointees are being honoured for a lifetime of service to this province, laying the groundwork of resilience and community that each one of us was called to act upon in this historic global pandemic. Let these appointees inspire you and encourage you to honour those around you by nominating them to be recognized by the province. We have much to be proud of.”
“The Ontario government is proud to recognize and congratulate the 2019 and 2020 Order of Ontario appointees,” said Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. “These exceptional individuals inspire us and represent the very best of our great province. I ask all Ontarians to join me in honouring them and celebrating their accomplishments.”
The Lieutenant Governor will bestow the honour upon the newest appointees during an investiture ceremony at Queen’s Park, at a point in time in the future, when the Chief Medical Officer of Health deems gatherings possible once again in the province.
Quick Facts
- 798 people have been appointed to the Order of Ontario since its establishment in 1986.
- Appointments to the Order are made on the recommendation of an independent advisory council based on merit of accomplishments of nominees put forward by the public.
- The nomination deadline is March 31 each year. You can nominate a resident or former long-term resident of Ontario for the 2021 Order of Ontario here.
- Full list of 2019 and 2020 Order of Ontario appointments.
Related Topics
Arts and Culture
Learn more about the live performances, cultural institutions and creative grants the province has to offer. Learn more
Business and Economy
Information about Ontario’s economy and how to do business here. Includes economic development opportunities, research funding, tax credits for business and the Ontario Budget. Learn more
Government
Learn about the government services available to you and how government works. Learn more
Home and Community
Information for families on major life events and care options, including marriage, births and child care. Also includes planning resources for municipalities. Learn more
Travel and Recreation
Learn more about hunting and fishing, provincial parks, festivals and events, and visiting Ontario. Learn more
Media Contacts
Alexandra Tichinoff
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Alexandra.Tichinoff@ontario.ca
Leighanne Neilson
Communications Branch
Leighanne.Neilson@ontario.ca
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