Straight Talk

Ex-premier Gordon Campbell named an officer of the Order of Canada

Two Vancouver doctors and two Vancouver academics have become members

by Charlie Smith on June 29th, 2018 at 1:09 PM
    1 of 3 2 of 3

      Gov.-Gen. Julie Payette has appointed a former B.C. premier to the second-highest rank of the Order of Canada.

      Gordon Campbell was named an officer in recognition of his contributions to B.C. and his service as high commissioner to the United Kingdom.

      Campbell served one term as a Vancouver city councillor before becoming mayor in 1986, a position he held until 1993. He was B.C.'s premier from 2001 to 2011.

      He never lost an election, but chose to resign in the face of a massive backlash over his imposition of a harmonized sales tax.

      Campbell spends a great deal of time in Toronto, but the governor-general's news release lists his city as "Vancouver".

      Four others from Vancouver were named as members of the Order of Canada:

      • Dr. Gabor Maté for his contributions to the fields of addictions and mental health as a physician, author and advocate;

      Once upon a time, harm-reduction advocate Dr. Gabor Maté was seen as a thorn in the side of the establishment, but now he's a member of the Order of Canada.

      • Dr. Bruce McManus for his translational research that has led to advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease and organ failure in Canada;

      • UBC professor emeritus Veronica Strong-Boag for her activism, for her prolific career as a historian and for her research that has made the history of women an integral part of the study of history in Canada;

      • and UBC professor emeritus Mark Thompson for his influential contributions to the fields of industrial relations and public policy as an academic, arbitrator, and author.

      Retired chief justice Beverley Mclachlin taught law at UBC before being appointed to the bench.
      Concordia University

      Former UBC law professor and retired Supreme Court of Canada chief justice Beverley McLachlin was among three people named to the highest rank as companions of the Order of Canada.

      The others were Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels and former astronaut Roberta Bondar.

      McLachlin's appointment is new whereas Michaels and Bondar were promoted from within the order.

      Comments