Six British Columbians, including two with roots in Victoria, were among 69 appointments by Governor General David Johnston to the Order of Canada on Thursday. Here’s a brief look at each:
Atom Egoyan: Companion of the Order of Canada
The Victoria-raised movie director earned a promotion within the order for his groundbreaking contributions to film as an internationally respected filmmaker and for his commitment to mentoring and showcasing Canadian artists. The 55-year-old Egoyan, who lives in Toronto, earned a best director nomination at the 70th Academy Awards for his critically acclaimed 1997 film, The Sweet Hereafter.
Ted Grant: Member of the Order of Canada
With a career spanning six decades, Victoria’s Ted Grant is regarded as the father of Canadian photojournalism, capturing unique and enduring images of Canadians from Ben Johnson’s Olympic victory to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau sliding down a banister. In addition to the many awards and distinctions Grant has earned, the National Archives of Canada maintains the Ted Grant Photo Collection, comprising more than 280,000 images. Another 100,000 images are curated by the National Gallery of Canada, the largest collection dedicated to any photographer.
Nassif Ghoussoub: Officer of the Order of Canada
Born in Mali, Nassif Ghoussoub has distinguished himself as a scientist, educator and mathematician working in the field of non-linear analysis and differential equations. Ghoussoub is a professor of mathematics at the University of B.C., where he also serves as a Distinguished University Scholar. He has won at least 11 major awards and distinctions, published dozens of academic papers and supervised the higher education of a generation of graduate students and post-doctoral fellows.
Rudy Buttignol: Member of the Order of Canada
CEO of British Columbia’s Knowledge Network, Rudy Buttignol was appointed for contributions to the growth and quality of Canadian documentary filmmaking. Italian-born Buttignol was an independent filmmaker from the mid-1970s through the early 1990s, when he joined public broadcasting as the creative head of independent production for TVOntario. He has served in leadership roles on dozens of boards and festivals in the film and television world and is regarded as the driving force in the transformation of the Knowledge Network.
Wade Davis: Member of the Order of Canada
Author, explorer, ethnobotanist and photographer, Wade Davis was appointed for his work to promote conservation of the natural world. A Harvard-educated anthropologist and explorer-in-residence at the National Geographic Society, Davis has written 15 books including The Serpent and the Rainbow. Davis is professor of anthropology and the B.C. Leadership Chair in Cultures and Ecosystems at Risk at the University of B.C.
Peter S. Li: Member of the Order of Canada
Peter S. Li, through decades of work as a sociologist and editor of books such as Race and Ethnic Relations in Canada and Destination Canada: Immigration Debates and Issues, has shaped public discourse on everything from ethnicity and language policy to multiculturalism and immigration reform. Li has been an associate editor of the Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology and advised the Canadian government on diversity issues.
