A trailblazing singer-songwriter, an internationally acclaimed cardiologist, and an Indigenous leader who helped craft Queen’s award-winning A Mile in Their Shoes program are among the 10 Queen’s community members named to the Order of Canada, one of the country’s highest honours.
The Queen’s alumni, faculty, and supporters were part of the 61 new appointments to the Order of Canada announced by Gov. Gen. Louise Arbour, LLD’00, today.
“The Order of Canada recognizes those whose contributions help us see our country and our place in the world with greater clarity and purpose,” said the Governor General in a statement. “These appointees, from diverse backgrounds and fields, reflect the talent and determination that shape Canada’s future.”
The national order was established in 1967 with the help of Queen’s alumnus and Member of Parliament John Matheson[RD1.1][RD1.2], BA’40, LLD’80, who was a driving force in its development. He said the Tricolour Society at Queen’s served as a model.
Here is a closer look at members of the Queen’s community being honoured:
Officers
Eric Baker, Sc’56
Eric Baker helped shape Canada’s early venture capital landscape. As an entrepreneur and investor, he played a role in building successful companies in the emerging technology and communications sectors, including AES Data, known for developing the world’s first word-processing system. His impact has also extended through his generous philanthropy in a wide variety of fields.
Loreena McKennitt, LLD’05
Loreena McKennitt is an acclaimed singer-songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist who has sold more than 16 million albums worldwide. A champion of artists and military families, she has also contributed to community life in Stratford, Ont., through initiatives including The Falstaff Family Centre and Wise Communities Stratford. Her broader public service includes work in civic engagement, public dialogue, and reconciliation.
Beverley Orser, Meds’81
Beverley Orser has advanced understanding of how anesthetic drugs affect memory, consciousness, and brain function. A leading anesthesiologist, neuroscientist, and University of Toronto professor, she is internationally recognized for her research into the molecular mechanisms of anesthesia. Her work has also helped improve patient safety through advocacy and best-practice standards adopted around the world.
Mary Thompson
Mary Thompson has helped shape statistical science through her work in survey methodology and public policy research. A University of Waterloo professor, she has contributed to major national and international initiatives, including the International Tobacco Control Project, and helped found the Canadian Statistical Sciences Institute. She has also championed women in the mathematical and statistical sciences.
Members
Philip Akin
Philip Akin has shaped Canadian stage and screen as an actor, director, and cultural force for more than 50 years. At a time when few Black performers were seen on Canadian television, his work helped open doors for others. He co-founded Obsidian Theatre, where he championed Black artists and helped reshape Canada’s theatrical landscape for future generations. Akin has also served on the advisory board for Queen’s DAN School of Drama and Music.
Stephen Archer, Meds’81, Artsci’87
Stephen Archer is an internationally acclaimed cardiologist and Queen’s professor of medicine. His groundbreaking discoveries in pulmonary arterial hypertension and its underlying mechanisms have led to novel therapies and improved patient care. He has influenced important health-care initiatives, including the creation of the Translational Institute of Medicine at Queen’s and the Alberta Cardiovascular and Stroke Research Centre.
David Fung
David Fung has brought engineering, entrepreneurship, and technology together across a career focused on sustainable industry, global manufacturing, and cross-border innovation. He has built or renewed more than 25 companies worldwide while advancing clean technology and circular-economy solutions. An inventor, adviser, and bridge-builder in Canada-China economic relations, Fung completed executive business education at Queen’s.
Ry Moran
Ry Moran is a Red River Métis citizen whose work has advanced truth, reconciliation, and access to Indigenous historical records in Canada. A former director of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and founding director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, he now serves as Canada’s first associate university librarian, Reconciliation, at the University of Victoria. As co-founder and program curator of Queen’s A Mile in Their Shoes program, he has helped alumni engage more deeply with the history and ongoing impacts of residential schools.
Robert Quartermain, MSc’81
Robert Quartermain is a geologist and mining executive whose work has had a major impact on Canada’s mining sector. Over the course of his career, he helped create thousands of jobs, contributed billions of dollars in economic activity, and discovered one of the country’s highest-grade gold deposits. Through his philanthropy, he has also supported initiatives that benefit 2SLGBTQI+ youth across Canada.
Anne Woolger, Artsci’85
For almost 40 years, Anne Woolger has welcomed and supported refugee claimants with compassion and conviction. In 1998, she founded Matthew House Toronto, a non-profit refugee reception service that grew from a single home into a wider network of support for newcomers. The organization has assisted more than 5,000 people and helped inspire similar programs across North America.
