Two Edmontonians received national honours Friday for their significant contributions to mental health care and equal rights.
David Johnston, the Governor General of Canada awarded 44 Canadians – including Roger Bland and Fred Martin of Edmonton – with an Order of Canada at a special ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa Friday.
“I believe that the single greatest attribute of the Order of Canada is the incredible variety of its membership. It truly reflects the inherent strength of diversity, which is surely one of the defining characteristics of our country,” Johnston said.
“I am so pleased to invest you into the Order of Canada, the centerpiece of our country’s honours system.”
The Order of Canada was created in 1967 to recognize a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation.
Bland was honoured for his work in advancing policy changes to mental health care.
“As executive director of Alberta Mental Health Services, he promoted a community-based approach that integrated mental health care with primary health care services. As a professor at the University of Alberta, he has researched the epidemiology and long-term outcomes of psychiatric disorders, increasing our understanding of mental illness and how to support those affected by it,” said Stephen Wallace, secretary to the Governor General.
“He is an inspiration to his colleagues and to advocates working in this field.”
Martin was honoured for his efforts promoting equal rights.
‘In the 1960s, he volunteered with the civil rights movement in the United States to increase voter registration for African Americans. He then served as legal counsel for the Métis Settlements General Council, where he helped to develop an innovative process to provide Métis Settlements communities with land ownership, self-governance and cultural oversight of their affairs,” Wallace said.
“In addition, he worked with the Government of Nunavut to oversee the management and regulation of the territory’s energy supply.”
Johnston thanked Order recipients for their contributions “that shape our ongoing experiment called Canada.”
Since its creation, more than 6,000 Canadians have been invested into the Order of Canada.
As the 50th anniversary of the Order of Canada nears, Johnston said plans are underway to mark the occasion and set the course for the next 50 years.
“Together we are looking forward to marking these important milestones and defining Canada’s aspirations for the next 50 years,” he said.
