More than 40 years after being told she was a threat to Canada because of her sexuality, Diane Pitre is being given one of the countryB次元官网网址檚 top honours.
The advocate for LGBTQ+ members of the Canadian Armed Forces, who was kicked out of the service in 1980 as part of what has become known as The Purge, is among 88 new appointees to the Order of Canada announced Wednesday.
They include B次元官网网址淒eadpoolB次元官网网址� movie star Ryan Reynolds, Holocaust survivor and educator Mariette Doduck, geneticist David Chitayat, curler Kevin Martin and Heather Rankin, a member of the award-winning band The Rankin Family.
ItB次元官网网址檚 an honour Pitre said sheB次元官网网址檚 still trying to wrap her head around.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 still in shock, and itB次元官网网址檚 surreal for me. I never expected it,B次元官网网址� Pitre said from her home in Campbellton, N.B.
Pitre spent decades after being kicked out of the military lobbying for an apology from the government.
That came in 2017 when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stood in the House of Commons and apologized for past state-sanctioned discrimination against members of the LGBTQ+ community in Canada.
Douglas Elliott, lead counsel in a class-action lawsuit related to The Purge, was also appointed to the Order of Canada this year.
This yearB次元官网网址檚 list of Canadians deemed to have made extraordinary contributions to the nation features scientists including internationally recognized E. coli expert Carlton Gyles, pediatric neuro-oncology researcher Nada Jabado and speech-language pathologist Aura Kagan.
Musicians and artists on the list include Don Alder, one of the top acoustic fingerstyle guitarists in the world, internationally renowned sculptor Ruth Abernethy, and multimedia artist Stan Douglas.
New officers of the Order of Canada include author Maureen Jennings, who wrote the B次元官网网址淒etective MurdochB次元官网网址� series of books that was adapted into the TV show B次元官网网址淢urdoch MysteriesB次元官网网址� on CBC, and music and media executive Randy Lennox, who led companies including Universal Music Canada and Bell Media.
Businessman Pierre Boivin, who was president of the Montreal Canadiens for 11 years and now serves as chancellor of McGill University, was promoted to a companion of the Order of Canada, the highest level within the Order.
Gov. Gen. Mary Simon thanked the appointees for their B次元官网网址減erseverance, fearless leadership and visionary spirit.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淢embers of the Order of Canada are builders of hope for a better future. Each in their own way, they broaden the realm of possibilities and inspire others to continue pushing its boundaries,B次元官网网址� she said in a statement.
Disability rights expert Michael Prince said he choked up telling his wife about his appointment.
B次元官网网址淪ometimes you just donB次元官网网址檛 know where the feeling comes from, it just sort of overwhelmed me,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淚 think just the importance of it, or the significance of it B次元官网网址� was quite profound. I could barely get the words out.B次元官网网址�
A University of Victoria professor, Prince has advised federal, provincial and territorial governments on disability rights and served on four royal commissions.
He most recently made news when he resigned in April from the federal governmentB次元官网网址檚 disability advisory group over what he said was the inadequate funding of the Canada Disability Benefit.
Canadian curling superstar Martin said he doesnB次元官网网址檛 know who nominated him for the award but called it a surprise and an honour.
Martin, whose resume includes a world championship in 2008, a silver medal at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games and four gold medals at the Brier, also holds the record for Grand Slam titles with 17.
Rideau Hall credits Martin with helping to guide the sportB次元官网网址檚 competitive development, and contributing to the sport as a broadcaster, speaker, business person and teacher.
B次元官网网址淵ou try your best at whatever it is youB次元官网网址檙e doing to grow whatever part of society you tend to to live in, and do your best,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淎nd if something like this happens, thatB次元官网网址檚 fantastic. But itB次元官网网址檚 unexpected.B次元官网网址�
Pitre is the founder and co-chair of Rainbow Veterans of Canada and said she will continue her work even though progress has been made.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been doing this for so long, and IB次元官网网址檓 going to continue doing it because you donB次元官网网址檛 want things to change (back). You never know when those things can happen again,B次元官网网址� she said.
New members of the order are invited to a ceremony to receive their insignia. A statement from Rideau Hall says ceremonies will be announced B次元官网网址渋n due course.B次元官网网址�
New officers from B.C.
- Ronald Frank Burnett B次元官网网址� Vancouver (This is a promotion within the order.)
- Stan Douglas B次元官网网址� Vancouver
- Marco Antonio Marra B次元官网网址� Vancouver
- David Richard McCann B次元官网网址� Vancouver
- Jeffrey John McDonnell B次元官网网址� Vernon
- Ryan Reynolds B次元官网网址� Vancouver and New York
- Tricia Catherine Smith B次元官网网址� Vancouver (This is a promotion within the order.)
New members from B.C.
- Donald Alder B次元官网网址� Vancouver
- Donald A. Dippo B次元官网网址� Comox
- Mariette Doduck B次元官网网址� Vancouver
- Morna Edmundson B次元官网网址� Vancouver
- Michael J. Prince B次元官网网址� Victoria
- Allan Douglas George Wade B次元官网网址� Duncan
- Mark Zuehlke B次元官网网址� Victoria
