Vancouver Appointments to the Order of Canada in 2024
byHer Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, has made 88 new appointments to the Order of Canada, including one Companion, 24 Officers and 63 Members. Three appointments are promotions within the Order.
Notable Vancouverites receiving the honour this year include philanthropists, researchers, artists, and advocates.
Vancouver Appointments to the Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is one of Canada’s highest honours, recognizing people across all sectors of society who have made extraordinary and sustained contributions to the nation.
Appointments are made for sustained achievement at three levels: Companion, Officer and Member. Officers and Members may be elevated within the Order in recognition of further achievement, based on continued exceptional or extraordinary service to Canada. Usually, promotions can be considered five years after the last appointment.
Announced in December 2024
Officers
Ronald Frank Burnett, O.C., O.B.C.
Vancouver, British Columbia
President emeritus of Emily Carr University of Art and Design, Ron Burnett is dedicated to arts education. He continues to solidify the school’s international reputation as a leader in the arts, speaking and writing in Canada and abroad while working with the Centre for Transdisciplinary Studies and Learning Development Institute.
This is a promotion within the Order.
Stan Douglas, O.C.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Stan Douglas is a renowned, Vancouver-based artist whose multimedia works re-examine pivotal historical events and technology’s role in shaping collective memory. He has represented Canada at many international exhibitions including the 2022 Venice Biennale, and his thought-provoking work has been shown around the world, notably in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Italy and the United States.
Marco Antonio Marra, O.C., O.B.C.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Marco Marra propelled Canada to the forefront of genome research. A world-renowned scientist, he led large-scale initiatives and groundbreaking work in sequencing the SARS coronavirus genome, and highlighted the underlying causes of cancers and new treatment strategies. Formerly director of Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, he continues the global fight against cancer.
David Richard McCann, O.C.
Vancouver, British Columbia
David McCann is a respected businessman, philanthropist and community leader in the fight against child poverty in Vancouver. A defender of human rights, he was a catalyst in an investigation that uncovered decades of abuse at two Ontario schools and helped negotiate a groundbreaking reconciliation agreement for survivors, which has become a template used around the world.
Ryan Reynolds, O.C., O.B.C.
Vancouver, British Columbia and New York, New York, United States of America
Ryan Reynolds has captivated audiences worldwide, notably writing, producing and starring in the widely successful Deadpool films. Off-screen, he supports Canadian causes including Water First Education, Covenant House Vancouver and Sick Kids Foundation, and co-founded initiatives to increase opportunities for under-represented groups. His far-reaching philanthropy continues to strengthen communities nationwide.
Tricia Catherine Smith, O.C.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Tricia Smith has been a passionate advocate for sport for decades. She has been an esteemed leader in numerous roles, including president of the Canadian Olympic Committee and member of the International Olympic Committee. She continues to champion women in sport and the unique value of sports in society. This is a promotion within the Order.
Members
Donald Alder, C.M.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Don Alder is one of the top acoustic fingerstyle guitarists in the world. He has a deep commitment to raising awareness and creating access for people with physical challenges. He has volunteered his time and expertise with the Canadian Paralympic team and the Vancouver Adapted Music Society, and is on the board of directors for Empower Through Music.
Mariette Doduck, C.M.
Vancouver, British Columbia
For more than 50 years, Marie Doduck has been a leader in Holocaust education and philanthropy in Vancouver. She co-founded the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre and has shared her survivor story with thousands. As the first woman to serve as president of the Beth Israel Synagogue Board, she champions community engagement and fundraising initiatives.
Morna Edmundson, C.M.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Morna Edmundson is an award-winning choral director and the co-founder of the Elektra Women’s Choir. An inspiring mentor whose innovative programming, commissions and engagement serve as a lasting legacy for the choral community, she has helped establish Vancouver’s national and worldwide reputation as a choral mecca.
Announced in June 2024
Officers
Yusuf Altintas, O.C.
Vancouver, British Columbia
A professor of mechanical engineering at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Yusuf Altintas continues to push the limits of manufacturing. The founder and director of UBC’s Manufacturing Automation Laboratory, he is a world leader in the fields of metal cutting dynamics and the computer control of machine tools. An exceptional mentor, he has also contributed to cultural and educational organizations worldwide.
Chit Chan Gunn, O.C., O.B.C.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Chan Gunn has shared the benefits of his innovative chronic pain treatment, intramuscular stimulation (IMS), with the world. He continues to broaden its impact through increased training and research, as well as philanthropic investments in academic programs and professorships. His substantial and transformative gift to the University of British Columbia led to the establishment of the Chan Gunn Pavilion, an integrated space for exercise science and sports medicine.
This is a promotion within the Order.
Lindsay Machan, O.C.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Lindsay Machan is an early Canadian proponent of interventional radiology. A clinical practitioner at the Vancouver Hospital and an associate professor at the University of British Columbia, he continues to innovate while guiding others on their own paths to growth and success. His company created and licensed the paclitaxel coated stent, which has improved the lives of people with peripheral arterial disease.
Members
Joe Brock Average, C.M., O.B.C.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Joe Average is a revered Vancouver artist, human rights activist and philanthropist. His colourful, pop-inflected images have adorned Vancouver’s cityscape since the late 1980s. Diagnosed with HIV/AIDS at age 27, he used his art to advocate for people living with HIV, and shared his personal story to raise awareness of the stigma associated with AIDS. He has donated his work to support charitable organizations that support people with terminal illnesses.
John Allan Cairns, C.M., O.B.C.
West Vancouver, British Columbia
John Cairns has made major international contributions to cardiology, notably demonstrating the benefits of aspirin for patients with unstable angina, helping millions worldwide. As dean of medicine at the University of British Columbia, he led efforts toward its two-fold expansion. He also served with several academic societies and holds many elected fellowships, including with Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, for which he served as president.
Janine Elizabeth Fuller, C.M.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Janine Fuller is a lifelong champion of intellectual freedom and an advocate for 2SLGBTQI+ communities. At Little Sister’s Book and Art Emporium in Vancouver, she played an instrumental role in the shop’s fight against censorship, which led to a landmark Supreme Court of Canada ruling and a breakthrough in the recognition of 2SLGBTQI+ rights. As someone living with Huntington’s disease, she has been a beacon of hope for others with the condition.
Jane Knott Hungerford, C.M., O.B.C.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Jane Hungerford is admired for her leadership in fundraising for health care, education, social services and conservation efforts. She has raised millions of dollars for crucial cancer research and community services in British Columbia and beyond. The B.C. Cancer Foundation, Science World, the University of British Columbia, and the Aboriginal Mother Centre have all benefited from her determination and ability to bring people together. She is a proud member of the Gwich’in Nation.
Brandt Channing Louie, C.M., O.B.C.
West Vancouver, British Columbia
Brandt Channing Louie is a business entrepreneur and philanthropist contributing to public and non-profit organizations across economic, education, health and arts sectors. He is the chair and CEO of both London Drugs Limited and H. Y. Louie Co., Limited, a family-owned grocery retailer spanning four generations. He supports various community initiatives through the Tong and Geraldine Louie Family Foundation, and is a dedicated consultant on national anti-Asian racism strategies.
Bruno Gottfried Marti, C.M., O.B.C
Vancouver, British Columbia
Bruno Marti is a world-class chef who has advanced the culinary arts in British Columbia and Canada. The retired owner of La Belle Auberge, an award-winning restaurant in Ladner, British Columbia, he is lauded for his leadership in gastronomy on the world stage. He has mentored Canadian chefs for over four decades, and has coached and led teams in international competitions, including the Culinary Olympics.
Frances Marjorie Shaver, C.M.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Frances Shaver has made groundbreaking scholarly contributions to the field of sex work. Professor emeritus at Concordia University, she is lauded for her respectful engagement with those working and living in the industry. Many researchers in this field have been inspired by her approach to research, her advocacy, and her commitment to fight for legal and policy changes to support and protect marginalized Canadians.
Marvin R. V. Storrow, C.M., O.B.C.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Marvin Storrow is a revered lawyer who, over six decades, has argued at all levels of the provincial and federal court systems, including the Supreme Court of Canada. He is highly regarded for working with B.C. First Nations and for litigating several groundbreaking cases on land titles and constitutional rights. An esteemed mentor to many members of the legal profession, he is admired for his advocacy of human rights and pro bono work.
Jack Edward Taunton, C.M.
Delta, British Columbia
Jack Taunton is an early leader in sport and exercise medicine. Professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia and an active fundraiser, he helped found SportMedBC, the Canadian Health and Fitness Institute, the Vancouver Marathon and the Vancouver Sun Run. He has also served as a specialist for elite athletes and the general public, as a national team physician and as chief medical officer for six major Games
The Order of Canada is the cornerstone of the Canadian Honours System. Thanks to nominators across the country, it has celebrated the outstanding achievements and wide-ranging contributions of over 8 000 individuals since its creation in 1967.
View a full list of all Companions, Members, and Officers throughout history.
Anyone can nominate a person for the Order of Canada. Nominations are accepted on an ongoing basis and can be made online. Follow the Office of the Governor General on Facebook for news and updates.
