On June 30, 2016, the Governor General of Canada, David Johnston, appointed 113 deserving Canadians to the Order of Canada, one of the country’s highest civilian honours. Many on this list of appointees are Ontario university professors, speaking to the immense social, scientific, political, and economic contributions made by our province’s scholars every day.
Eighteen professors from Ontario universities were appointed to the Order, in fields as diverse as history, politics, music, science, medicine, economics, social work, law, business, and education. Professor Barbara Sherwood Lollar, of the University of Toronto’s Department of Earth Sciences, deserves special recognitions for her promotion to Companion, the highest rank of the Order of Canada.
Much of the conversation around universities these days is about skills and job training. While this is an important function of the higher education system, universities and the professors that work within them make vital contributions to our society, improving lives while growing the economy and fostering a deeper understanding of ourselves. The new appointees to the Order of Canada are a testament to the myriad ways that professors build a stronger Ontario, a vibrant Canada, and a better planet.