Two Acadians named to the Order of Canada

Two Acadians, Bernard Richard and Diane Pitre, are among the 88 new members of the Order of Canada named by Governor General Mary Simon.

Acadian Diane Pitre is awarded one of the country’s highest honors after being discharged from the Canadian Armed Forces in 1980 because of her homosexuality

Defender of the rights of community members LGBTQ + said she was very surprised by her appointment to the Order of Canada this Wednesday.

I’m still in shock, it’s surreal for me. I didn’t expect it declared the New Brunswicker who lives in Campbellton.

She says she lobbied the government for years before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau finally apologized in 2017 in the House of Commons for state-sanctioned discrimination against members of the community. LGBTQ+ in Canada.

The founder and co-president of the Rainbow Veterans of Canada organization said she was proud to have won this battle but added that there is still a lot of work to do to change mentalities.

I’ve been doing this work for so long and I’m going to keep doing it because you don’t want to go back. You never know when these things might happen againshe said.

Bernard Richard

Another Acadian, Bernard Richard, was named a member of the Order of Canada.

New Brunswick’s premier children’s advocate and former provincial ombudsman has been involved with several charities, primarily in the areas of children’s rights, youth mental health and improving opportunities for children indigenous.

New members of the Order are invited to a ceremony to receive their badge. A press release from Rideau Hall states that the date of the ceremony will be announced in due course.

According to information from the Canadian Press