Quebecers to be appointed to one of Canada’s highest honours

Eight Quebecers were appointed into the Order of Canada Thursday in a group of 42 receiving one of Canada’s highest honours.

The Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, made the appointments for sustained achievement at three levels: Companion, Officer and Member.

Two Montrealers will be promoted to Companions.

The first, Janette Bertrand is a journalist who creates “thought-provoking content on a wide range of socio-cultural issues that affect all of Canada.”

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The second is Raymond A. J. Chrétien. Chrétien is an internationally recognized figure in Canadian diplomatic relations. He’s also been a key negotiator with important files between Canada and Quebec, involving relations with the U.S.

Quebec’s lone Officer appointee will be Jean-Charles Coutu of Rouyn-Noranda.

“Coutu has modernized Indigenous justice in Canada. Through the Quebec Itinerant Court, he sat in 21 Cree and Inuit villages in northern Quebec, where he advocated for the administration of adapted justice,” said a spokesperson for the Governor General of Canada.

Five Quebecers, four from Montreal — Liliane Colpron, Mitch Garber, Arshavir Gundjian, Jacques Légaré — and one from Longueuil — Diane Lamarre — will be appointed as Members.

Colpron has revolutionized artisanal bakeries in Quebec. In two decades of owning a business, she’s promoted sustainable agricultural practices and healthy eating.

Garber has made contributions to Canada’s economic development by growing the gaming and entertainment industry, as well as being chair of Invest in Canada and the beloved Cirque du Soleil.

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Gundjian has laid foundations for the Canadian Armenian community. Over 50 years, he’s helped newcomers integrate into Quebec. He also paved the way for the École Alex Manoogian, the Tekeyan Association of Montréal, and the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Canada.

Lamarre is a pharmacist and professor at the Université de Montréal who helped with the creation of a bill that expanded the mandate of pharmacists. She’s also made several tv appearances where she’s explained and educated the public on certain medications and has taken part in over 30 humanitarian missions.

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Légaré is also a professor at the Université de Montréal. “He played a key role in creating the databases for the Research Program in Historical Demography and the Registre de la population du Québec ancien, which solidified his international reputation,” and has led to generations of Canadians and researchers to learn about their family history.