December 28, 2023 — Today, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, unveiled the names of 78 remarkable individuals appointed to the Order of Canada, showcasing excellence and dedication across various fields. Among them are three Companions, 15 Officers, one Honorary Officer, and 59 Members. Notably, three appointments involve well-deserved promotions within the Order.

Established in 1967, the Order of Canada stands as a beacon of recognition for those who have made extraordinary, lasting contributions to our nation. This year’s recipients, spanning diverse sectors, embody the spirit of dedication and excellence that enriches communities across the country.
At the announcement, Governor General Mary Simon emphasized the importance of recognizing the rich diversity and excellence within our communities and encourages all of us to learn from and aspire to the impressive accomplishments displayed by the recipients: “I encourage each of us to become catalysts for the change we want to see in the Canadian Honours System by nominating individuals whose exceptional accomplishments may have gone unrecognized through the years.”
While none of the recipients this year hail directly from Brampton, the neighbouring Mississauga proudly boasts Zainub Verjee among its distinguished members. Verjee, a Kenya-born Canadian video artist, curator, writer, arts administrator and public intellectual, was acknowledged for advancing representation and equitable policy legislation within Canada’s arts and culture sectors. At the City of Mississauga, her work as the inaugural Director led to setting up of its Culture Division and the first Culture Master Plan.

The majority of honorees come from Toronto, demonstrating the city’s significant impact across various fields. One of the new members from Toronto, Flavio Volpe, C.M., recently made headlines for criticizing the federal government’s recent announcement mandating all vehicles sold in Canada to be electric by 2035. Volpe, President of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, was honoured for ‘advancing Canada’s automotive and technology industries on an international scale as a leading policy expert in national trade and industry competition’. Volpe was instrumental to developing ‘Project Arrow’, the first Canadian-made electric vehicle, but worries the government’s mandates will lead to more imports from China, hurting Canadian auto-manufacturers.

The inclusion of Volpe as an appointee to the Order of Canada indicates that you don’t have to be on the best of terms with the current Canadian Government to receive one of our country’s highest honours.
A full list of recipients can be found here.
The investiture ceremony, where appointees will receive their insignia, will be announced at a later date. This year’s cohort showcases the wealth of talent and dedication present in communities nationwide, inspiring Canadians to strive for a better country.