Meet the 24 women just appointed to the Order of Canada

The latest Order of Canada appointments are in – and among them are some truly incredible women. 

Since 1967, The Order of Canada has been a way to recognize people who are making extraordinary contributions to the country. Considered one of the nation’s highest honours, 8,200 people have been inducted into the order to date.

In total this year, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, made 83 new appointments, 24 of them being remarkable women. 

“Congratulations to the newest appointees to the Order of Canada. We proudly recognize each of these individuals whose dedication and passion for service not only enrich our communities but also help shape the fabric of our nation,” she said. “Together, they inspire us to strive for greatness and to foster a future filled with hope and possibility.”

Whether it’s through groundbreaking research, championing human rights, or making waves in the arts, these women are making a real difference. 

Here’s a closer look at the women just inducted into the Order of Canada:

OFFICERS 

Cheryl Forchuk

Cheryl Forchuk is a nurse scientist who’s changing the way Canada approaches mental health, poverty, and homelessness. Her work focuses on building stronger, more supportive relationships in care and ensuring people living with mental illness and homelessness are getting the support they need to rebuild their lives.

Bonnie J. Fraser Henry

Bonnie Henry has spent decades using her public health expertise to keep people in Canada – and around the world – safe and healthy. As B.C.’s provincial health officer, she became a trusted voice guiding the province during the COVID-19 pandemic. Beyond that, she’s also an author, a respected scholar, and a clinical associate professor at the University of British Columbia.

Maureen Anne McTeer

A respected Canadian lawyer and author, Maureen McTeer has been a leader on gender issues and health guidelines throughout her career. She has worked to shape and update policy related to women’s health and equality, pollution, the international rule of law, fertility rights, and individual autonomy in end-of-life care.

(Check out Maureen’s previous story with us!) 

Saroj Saigal

Saroj Saigal has played a big role in shaping the field of neonatology. She was the first to take a deep, human-focused look at the lives of extremely premature babies, which has changed how we think about preterm infants and helped us better understand their long-term outcomes.

Theresa Tam

As a pediatric infectious disease specialist and public servant, Theresa Tam has been a driving force in public health – both in Canada and around the world. Her leadership was especially front and centre during the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic when she served as Canada’s chief public health officer.

Miriam Toews

Miriam Toews is a celebrated writer known for capturing both heartbreak and humour in her stories. Her novels shine a light on resilience, meaning, and the messy beauty of being human – touching readers deeply and inspiring a loyal following of students and fans along the way.

Tonya Williams

Tonya Williams is an esteemed actor and passionate advocate for greater access and inclusion of racialized people in film and media. Founder, executive and artistic director of Reelworld Screen Institute and Reelworld Foundation, she helped build a diverse screen industry and has left an indelible mark on Canadian and international entertainment.

MEMBERS

Freda Lang Browns

Freda Browns has been a cornerstone of Canada’s philanthropic scene for more than 50 years. She’s made a lasting impact by supporting everything from the arts and education to health and culture in Montréal and across the country. The impressive art collection she built with her late husband, Irwin, now lives on in museums and institutions all over Canada.

Alexandra Bugailiskis

A diplomat for nearly four decades, Alexandra Bugailiskis has served as ambassador to Syria, Cuba, Poland and Italy and held executive positions at Global Affairs where she helped shape foreign policies and mentored future diplomats. She is currently Chair of UNU Institute for Water, Environment and Health.

Marianne Dubuc

Marianne Dubuc is a beloved children’s author and illustrator whose books have reached readers around the world. Her gentle, nature-inspired stories are full of heart and kindness, encouraging kids to dream big, read often, and see the world with empathy and imagination.

Allison Audrey Eddy

Allison Eddy is a retired professor and clinician scientist who’s made a big impact in the world of pediatric kidney care. Known around the globe for her research on kidney fibrosis and the connection between inflammation and kidney scarring, she’s helped move the field forward. She’s also a dedicated mentor, guiding and inspiring the next generation of pediatricians and kidney specialists.

Elizabeth Rollins Epperly

Elizabeth Epperly is a leading scholar and administrator who’s helped shine a global spotlight on the beloved works of Lucy Maud Montgomery. She is esteemed for writing some of the earliest feminist readings of Montgomery and has inspired generations of scholars following in her footsteps.

Kent Farndale

Kent Farndale is a beloved civic leader. For decades, she has volunteered with and financially supported numerous organizations in the arts, community, education and health care sectors. Notably, she helped establish the Scugog Council for the Arts, served in several capacities with Craft Ontario, and oversaw capital campaigns for Lakeridge Health.

Élise Gravel

Élise Gravel is a celebrated children’s author and illustrator. With around 50 titles translated into more than a dozen languages, her work has reached young readers across the globe. By weaving in themes like inclusion, gender equality, and social justice, she’s helping kids build empathy, think independently, and stay curious about the world around them.

Lorraine Greaves

Lorraine Greaves is an expert in sex and gender-based research specializing in women’s experiences with addiction, tobacco use and violence. She’s the founder of the British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health and co-founded the International Network of Women Against Tobacco. Her leading research and advocacy continue to influence health practices worldwide.

Sky Dancer Louise Bernice Halfe

Louise Halfe, also known by her Cree name Sky Dancer, is a poet from the Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Alberta. Acclaimed for her poetry collections, she advocates language learning and preservation, and her thought-provoking work articulates, in both Cree and English, the history and experiences of Indigenous peoples.

Ruth Louise James & Donald James

Don and Ruth James, proud British Columbians, have made it their mission to give back. Through their foundation, they’ve supported a wide range of important causes across the province. Their generous contributions have played a key role in driving breakthroughs in research, improving clinical care, and enhancing patient services in health care.

Claudette McGowan

Claudette McGowan is a trailblazer in the world of information technology. As the founder and CEO of Protexxa, a Canadian cybersecurity company with a global footprint, she’s leading the charge in keeping digital spaces safe. Beyond her tech work, Claudette is a passionate advocate for women and a strong voice for digital human rights – both within the tech industry and around the world.

(Check out our previous interview with Claudette!)

Kathy Mulder

Kathy Mulder has dedicated many years to enhancing care for those with inherited bleeding disorders. She was the first woman, physiotherapist, and Canadian to chair the World Federation of Hemophilia’s Musculoskeletal Committee. Though now retired, she continues to inspire and guide specialists both in Canada and internationally through her mentorship.

Susan Peterson d’Aquino

Susan Peterson d’Aquino is a retired senior public servant, arts patron and philanthropist. Her contributions have touched major institutions like the National Arts Centre, the National Gallery, and the Banff Centre for the Arts. Alongside her love for the arts, she’s also deeply committed to preserving Canada’s heritage.

Sharon Diane Brown Ross

Sharon Ross has devoted her life to making a difference for Canadians, with a strong impact both in Nova Scotia and nationwide. Through her professional career and volunteer work, she has been a tireless advocate for social justice and inclusion. She has been instrumental in advancing recognition, dignity, and equal opportunities for racialized communities across Canada.

Ebonnie Rowe

Ebonnie Rowe has been a powerhouse in the Canadian music scene for three decades, helping lift up emerging female artists through her nonprofit program that celebrates diversity across genres. As a trusted mentor, she offers artists not just performance and learning opportunities, but also a welcoming space where they can be themselves, grow, and find their confidence.

The Honourable Claudette Tardif

Former senator Claudette Tardif has distinguished herself by her exemplary commitment to recognizing and promoting the language rights of Canada’s minority communities and to championing the Canadian Francophonie. During her time as dean of the University of Alberta’s Faculté Saint-Jean, she played a key role in creating innovative programs that have opened doors to French education for countless Albertans.

Ruth Doreen Williams

Originally from the High Bar Indian Band, currently registered with the Tsilhqot’in Nation, Ruth Williams has promoted community-level economic and social development her whole life. Notably, she is a founding member and former president and CEO of All Nations Trust Company, an Indigenous-owned financial institution supporting Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs.