TRIBUTE was the order of the day on Thursday as the provincial government toasted the induction of 12 fresh faces into the Order of Manitoba.
The order is the highest honour the province can confer, and is meant to recognize Manitobans whose achievements have made a difference in the well-being of the province.
Ivan Eyre (back row, from left) John Albert Jack, Ken Ploen, Gary Doer, Ed Wood, Paul Thomas, Elmer Hildebrand and Clifford Edwards. Verna Kirkness (fronbt row, from left), Lynn Johnston, Janice Filmon, Lt-Gov. John Harvard, his wife Lenore Berscheid, Gail Asper and June Menzies.
The hour-long annual event was presided over by Lt.-Gov. John Harvard, and held in the gilded Manitoba Room at the legislature.
Harvard described the 12 new members, which included women's rights activist S. June Menzies and educator John Albert Jack, as "fiercely competitive, selflessly co-operative" people.
"The strength of our civilization is in our thoughts, our values and in our imaginations," Harvard told the hushed room of about 100 people.
Premier Gary Doer half-quipped that induction day was the most exciting day of the year in the legislature.
"You make us very proud," Doer said.
Both Harvard and Doer paid special tribute to the memory of Peter Liba, the former lieutenant-governor of Manitoba who died on June 30.
Liba was the first inductee to the Order of Manitoba in 1999.
"His... is an example of how the contributions of any member of society (go) beyond their lifespan," said Harvard.
Twelve is the maximum number of Order of Manitoba awards allowed to be granted each year.
Recipients are chosen by an advisory council that fields nominations from the public.
Cartoonist Lynn Johnston, a former Lynn Lake resident, was another of the 12 newcomers to the order.
Johnston, 60, rose to fame in the 1980s with her comic strip For Better or For Worse, now seen in over 2,000 newspapers worldwide.
Johnston, who now lives in northern Ontario, said she was "flummoxed" at the recognition.
"I'm ready to move back now," Johnston said, adding she feels a special place in her heart for our province.
"It would be great to call this home," she said.
Other inductees included human rights activist and business leader Gail Asper, former Law Reform Commission chairman Clifford Edwards, artist Ivan Eyre, broadcaster Elmer Hildebrand, Profs. Verna Kirkness and Paul Thomas, community leader Janice Filmon, CFL Hall of Famer Ken Ploen and aboriginal elder and volunteer Ed Wood.
james.turner@freepress.mb.ca
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