Established in 1967, the Order of Canada recognizes Canadians for their outstanding achievement, dedication to the community, and service to the nation that has enriched the lives of others. Governor General Louise Arbour recently announced 61 new appointments for 2026 in recognition of their extraordinary and sustained contributions to Canada. Joining this prestigious group of Canadians who are making a difference are 10 Queen’s community members, including researcher Stephen Archer.  

Dr. Archer (Medicine) holds the C. Franklin and Helene K. Bracken Chair and is the Director of Queen’s Translational Institute of Medicine (TIME), which he co-founded alongside Steven Vanner (Medicine). He has been appointed a Member of the Order of Canada, in part, for his groundbreaking discoveries in pulmonary arterial hypertension and its underlying mechanisms that have led to novel therapies and improved patient care. Originally a graduate of Queen’s medical school, he was recruited back in 2012 to head Queen’s department of medicine after serving in some of North America’s leading academic medical centres. Under his leadership, he helped launch I-EDIAA programs supporting parental leave and bursaries for Black and Indigenous students.

"It's a particular honour to receive the Order of Canada because I aspire to become the type of person the Order recognizes and I am thankful to those along the way – my family (especially my wife, Kathie, and children, Elizabeth, Ben, and Anya), colleagues, students, and mentors – whom have shaped who I am today," Archer said. "My goal as a physician scientist has been to make the world, and thus Queen's University and Canada, a better place."

Dr. Archer directs a CIHR-funded research lab studying the role of mitochondria as oxygen sensors and regulators of cell proliferation and apoptosis, work which has opened new therapeutic avenues for pulmonary hypertension, cancer, and lung injury associated with COVID-19. He has published more than 300 papers, and has been cited over 50,000 times. Dr. Archer is also the founder and Scientific Director of Queen’s Cardiopulmonary Unit, a translational research facility supporting heart, lung, blood, and vascular research.

"I am proud of my talented team of scientists who have discovered that mitochondria are the body's oxygen sensors, relevant to congenital heart diseases like patent ductus arteriosus and pulmonary hypertension," Archer said. "We have identified how changes in mitochondrial division regulate the cell cycle, opening new ways of stopping cancer cells from growing too rapidly and for treating heart and lung diseases like pulmonary hypertension."

As a practicing cardiologist with Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Dr. Archer treats patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, a rare but serious disease that restricts blood flow through the lungs. He has mentored more than 75 trainees, many of whom now hold leadership roles in science and medicine, and his work has been recognized with fellowship in the Royal Society of Canada and Distinguished Scientist Awards from the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology.

"Mentorship is a responsibility that requires sensitivity, dedication, and hard work. Mentorship is also a privilege, shaping the next generation," Archer said. "My advice is make sure you leave time to be a mentor. It's a gift of your time which will yield rich rewards."

Learn more about Queen’s alumni and community recipients below and visit the Governor General’s website for more on the June 2026 appointees. 
 

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.
 

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.