Two Acadians are among the 88 Canadians who were made members of the Order of Canada on Wednesday morning.
The recipients are activist and Canadian Armed Forces veteran Diane Pitre, from Campbellton, and former ombudsman Bernard Richard, from Cap-Pelé.
According to the explanatory note from the Governor General of Canada, Mary Simon, “Diane Pitre fought for decades so that people harmed by the LGBT purge, like her, could obtain redress. She continues to advocate for purge survivors and the rights of 2SLGBTQI+ people in the military. She notably co-founded Rainbow Veterans of Canada, which defends 2SLGBTQI+ veterans.
Bernard Richard, former MP, minister and ombudsman. – Acadie Nouvelle: Alexandre Boudreau
For his part, Bernard Richard “demonstrated extraordinary social and political commitment, both as a parliamentarian and as the sixth ombudsman of New Brunswick. The first defender of children in New Brunswick and the second representative of children in British Columbia, he distinguished himself by defending the rights of children and young people, both among our First Nations and on a national and international scale.
Ms. Pitre and Mr. Richard are the only two New Brunswickers to be part of the list of 88 nominees.
We also find the Nova Scotian singer Heather Rankin as well as the Nova Scotian journalist Steve Murphy.
Doctor and ex-footballer Laurent Duvernau-Tardif, Ryan Reynolds, star of the film Deadpool, Mariette Doduck, survivor and leading figure in Holocaust awareness, David Chitayat, geneticist, and Kevin Martin, curler, also was made a member of the Order of Canada on Wednesday.
“Members of the Order of Canada contribute to building a better future. All in their own way, they expand the field of possibilities and encourage others to continue to push the limits. Thank you for your perseverance, your bold leadership and your visionary spirit, and welcome to the Order of Canada,” said the Governor General in a press release.
The Order of Canada aims to recognize the “extraordinary” contribution of Canadians to their country. It was created in 1967.
New members of the Order are invited to a subsequent ceremony in Ottawa to be invested into the Order and receive their badge. The dates of these ceremonies will be announced in due course.
