Ryan Reynolds poses upon arrival at the screening of the film Deadpool & Wolverine in London, on July 11.Millie Turner
Eighty-eight new appointments to the Order of Canada, considered the nation’s highest honour, have been announced – including one for actor Ryan Reynolds, a mastermind behind hit box-office feature film Deadpool & Wolverine.
Others invested by Governor General Mary Simon include Canadians honoured for their work as artists, scholars, businesspeople, public servants, advocates, members of the military and the media. Those newly named will be invested in a ceremony, set to be held eventually, at which they receive an insignia.
The Order of Canada has honoured 8,000 individuals since it was created in 1967. The latest appointments, unveiled Wednesday, are a mix of those newly named and others promoted within the honour, including one companion, 24 officers and 63 members.
A list of the 88 new appointees to the Order of Canada
Appointments to the order are made by the governor general on the recommendation of an advisory council. On the occasion of these appointments, Ms. Simon said members are “builders of hope for a better future.”
Although the notice of appointment cites Vancouver-born Mr. Reynolds’s work as the character of Deadpool – he co-wrote, co-produced and starred in the film that made $1.3-billion at the global box office this year – it also says “his far-reaching philanthropy continues to strengthen communities nationwide.”
In particular, the notice that names Mr. Reynolds as an officer in the order references his work with such Canadian causes as Water First Education, a charity aimed at working to address water challenges facing Indigenous communities, and the Sick Kids Foundation, the fundraising partner of Toronto-based Hospital for Sick Children.
Among the others honoured is Maureen Jennings, the creator of 19th-century Toronto police detective William Murdoch, featured in novels and a long-running TV series in which Mr. Murdoch is played by Yannick Bisson.
“Her works explore important aspects of Canadian history, especially women’s roles during the Second World War,” her notice says, adding Ms. Jennings has been a mentor to fellow writers.
She said in an interview that the cultural impact of Mr. Murdoch, for which she is being named, is a team effort.
“Dozens of people have made Murdoch what it is,” Ms. Jennings said, particularly emphasizing Mr. Bisson. “They should all get OCs as well.”
Steve Murphy, who was CTV News at Six anchor in Nova Scotia for 29 years ending in December, 2021, was honoured for his work as a broadcaster central to a top-rated dinnertime newscast in the Maritimes. The notice also points out that he is revered for his charity work.
“As a proud Canadian, who grew up in the Maritimes and has been fortunate to pursue my life and career here, I am delighted, honored and humbled, beyond words, to have been appointed to the Order of Canada,” Mr. Murphy said in a statement.
Senior CBC producer Karen Levine was also named for her career, program leadership, documentaries and amplification of women’s voices as well as her book, Hana’s Suitcase, published in 2002, which has educated young readers about the Holocaust.
Others honoured as officers include Vancouver-based multimedia artist Stan Douglas, cited for “thought-provoking work” that re-examines pivotal historical events and technology’s role in shaping collective memory.
Retired army general Walter Natynczyk, a former chief of the Defence Staff, is described as a “pillar in our society” for leading numerous command positions, including peacekeeping missions.
Among the members in the Order of Canada are Fabienne Colas, who has worked to showcase artists of African descent across North America through the Fabienne Colas Foundation; Holocaust educator Pinchas Gutter of Toronto; and Jean-Pierre Kingsley, the former chief electoral officer of Canada.
The citation for Mr. Kingsley notes his work helping modernize the voting system and strengthening the integrity of the electoral process.
Also named are Guy Saint-Jacques of Saint-Lambert, Que., the former Canadian ambassador to China, as well as Barbara Jean Perry, a director of the Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism at Ontario Tech University.
