Order of Canada recognizes U of T leaders

The Order of Canada is recognizing six leaders from the ��Ƶ’s Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Arts & Science and Rotman School of Management today for their contributions to the country across a diverse range of fields.

“I'm delighted to see the Order of Canada recognize such eminent and deserving members of the U of T community,” said President Meric Gertler. “The motto of the Order of Canada, Desiderantes meliorem patriam, translates from Latin to ‘They desire a better country’ – and these leading scholars and dedicated citizens have made extraordinary contributions to building a better country and a better world.”

Since it was created in 1967, more than 6,000 Canadians have been invested into the Order of Canada. Among those named today is Professor Barbara Sherwood Lollar, who enters the Order at its highest level: Companion of the Order of Canada.

Sherwood Lollar a University Professor in earth sciences, is renowned for her pioneering research into billion-year-old water and the clues it may provide to ancient life on Earth and Mars. Her work has been recognized internationally for its contribution to deep subsurface microbiology and hydrocarbon geochemistry, as well as astrobiology and space exploration.

The graduate of Harvard, Waterloo and Cambridge universities has earned many awards, including a Steacie, a Killam and the Eni Award for Protection of the Environment, as well as recognition from the American Geophysical Union, Geological Society of America and Helmholtz Foundation. In 2013, Canadian Geographic selected her as one of their “Ten Canadians Changing the World.” And this past February, she won the prestigious NSERC John C. Polanyi Award.

Read more about Sherwood Lollar

There are three levels of the Order of Canada – Companion, Officer and Member – which recognize national pre-eminence or international service or achievement, national service or achievement, and outstanding contributions at the local or regional level or in a special field of activity, respectively. In a statement on its website, the Governor General’s office says the Order recognizes “people in all sectors of Canadian society. Their contributions are varied, yet they have all enriched the lives of others and made a difference to this country.”

John Richard English who was previously named a Member of the Order of Canada has been promoted within the Order to Officer for his contributions as a historian, author and administrator who has expanded our knowledge and understanding of Canada’s rich political heritage. A professor (status-only) in the department of history, English is the director of U of T’s Bill Graham Centre for Contemporary International History at Trinity College.

Rotman School of Medicine

Order of Canada recognizes U of T leaders

Read more about the Polanyi Award

Read more about Sherwood Lollar

Read more about English

Read more about Lozano

Read more about Whiteside

Read more about Martin

Read more about Wright

Read about previous Order of Canada recipients at U of T

See the complete list of the newest recipients