Michael J. Fox promoted to highest level of the Order of Canada
The actor and activist was raised to the companion level of the Order of Canada in a ceremony at Rideau Hall.
Explainer
Actor and activist Michael J. Fox was promoted to the highest level of the Order of Canada on Friday. Governor General Louise Arbour named Fox to the companion level of the order during a ceremony at Rideau Hall, where spectators stood and applauded. Rideau Hall said Fox was raised to honour his "powerful global advocacy and unflinching honesty about Parkinson's." Fox told The Canadian Press he felt both "pride" and "humility" at the honour. He was among 51 people inducted into, or promoted within, the Order of Canada.
Fox, who is 65, publicly disclosed his Parkinson's disease diagnosis in 1998. He has since raised $2.5 billion for research into the progressive nervous system disorder, which causes tremors, stiffness and slowness and is linked to depression and memory problems. He has also shared candid experiences about the challenges faced by those living with its symptoms. Fox noted Canada's role in advancing research, saying, "Canada was one of the early proving grounds for (deep brain stimulation)."
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What did Fox say about receiving the honour?
Following the ceremony, Fox reflected on his Canadian upbringing. "It's so many things. But mostly it's just growing up in Canada, loving this country, loving what it stands for and how it's progressed and corrected course when it needed to, and stayed the course when it needed to," he said. "I picked all that up growing up. I love Canadian music, I love that Canadian content thing. At the end, you have a 65-year-old guy who's uniquely Canadian because of all those things." He also joked about Governor General Arbour, saying, "She's very funny. Very sweet, very welcoming," and noting her "average height" made him feel tall.
What did the Governor General say?
Governor General Louise Arbour addressed all the inductees, thanking them for their work. "You could have used your talents solely to further your own success. Instead, you have chosen to use your skills, influence and energy to help others," she said in French. "Because talent, as exceptional as it may be, is not sufficient on its own. It also takes the will to get involved and to take action to improve one's community and contribute to the common good." Arbour said Fox is a "shining example of this." She added, "Your example reminds us of something that's very fundamental: sustainable progress requires that we move forward with courage, imagination and determination." Arbour concluded with a reference to Fox's film career, saying, "After all, back to the future has always been a much better idea than forward to the past."
Who else was honoured at the ceremony?
The ceremony saw 51 people inducted into or promoted within the Order of Canada across its three levels: companion, officer and member. Among those honoured as officers were Yusuf Altintas, a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of British Columbia, and Nada Jabado, a professor at McGill University honoured for her work in pediatric neuro-oncology. Former Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz was inducted as an officer for helping facilitate Canada's international trade and promote its economic well-being. Several individuals were inducted as members of the order. Sculptor Ruth Elsie Abernethy was honoured for creating iconic life-size bronze pieces showed around the world, with work exploring themes of gender, heritage and nation-building. Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter Susanne Craig was recognized for her work with The New York Times, The Globe and Mail and The Wall Street Journal, with Rideau Hall describing her as one of the most outstanding journalists of her generation. Other new members include Colin Roswell Clarke, founder and artistic director of the Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra program, and Marcelle Dubois, honoured for her work revitalizing Quebec playwriting. Patrick Joseph Lahey, co-founder of Triton Submarines, was inducted as a member for being one of the world's leading experts on submersibles and a leading voice for safe practices in the deep-diving industry.
With files from The Canadian Press, CBC News and The Globe and Mail