Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is one of 16 people appointed to receive the province’s highest honour, the Order of British Columbia.
Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin said in a statement she is delighted to welcome the 16 exceptional people to the Order of B.C., which is the province’s highest form of recognition.
She said joining Henry, who has played a leading role in B.C.’s ongoing COVID-19 pandemic response, are Indigenous leaders, philanthropists, artists and business and community trailblazers.
Premier John Horgan said in a statement each one of the 16 appointees has made tremendous contributions to their communities and he congratulates them for their leadership and dedication.
There were 257 nominations this year and since its inception, 475 people have been appointed to the Order of B.C.
The Tsilhqot’in Nation said in a statement it is celebrating the appointment of Chief Joe Alphonse, who helped lead the nation’s Supreme Court of Canada land title victory in 2014.
“Chief Alphonse has inspired and empowered Indigenous peoples around the world, and today, the Tsilhqot’in Nation celebrates and thanks him for his many contributions,” says the nation.
The 16 appointments, with biographical information provided by the provincial government:
• Chief Joe Alphonse, Tsilhqot’in Nation
• Joe Average, Vancouver, artist who has raised awareness about what it’s like to live with HIV/AIDS
• Brenda Baptise, Osoyoos, co-ordinated opening of Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre; led cultural events programs for inmates
• Frances Belzberg, Vancouver, philanthropist, championed health care, medical research and education
• Dr. Debra Braithwaite, Victoria, community physician at Victoria Hospice, focused on caring for people at end of life
• Ajay Dilawri, Vancouver, entrepreneur, founder with brothers Kap and Tony of Dilawri Group, largest automotive group in Canada
• Debra Doucette, District of North Vancouver, president and CEO of investment firm Odlum Brown; works to promote gender equality in finance industry
• Dr. Bonnie Henry, Victoria, provincial health officer
• Carol A. Lee, Vancouver, chair of Vancouver Chinatown Foundation, which she founded, working to revitalize Vancouver’s Chinatown
• Dr. James McEwen, Vancouver, biomedical engineer, inventor, entrepreneur, philanthropist; invented automatic surgical tourniquet
• Professor Andrew Petter, Victoria, former provincial cabinet minister, was dean of law at University of Victoria, president and vice-chancellor of Simon Fraser University
• Dr. Dolph Schluter, Vancouver, top authority on role ecology plays in origin and divergence of new species
• Dr. Paul Sorensen, Vancouver, professor of pathology at University of B.C., focused his work on understanding biologic underpinnings of childhood cancers
• Arran and Ratana Stephens, Vancouver, co-founders and co-owners of Nature’s Path, a leader in organic food manufacturing and distribution
• Marvin Storrow, Vancouver, lawyer who has led several milestone cases, especially involving First Nations
