Winnipeg hotelier, archeologist among inductees into Order of Canada

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/07/2015 (4064 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA – A hotelier, an agricultural entrepreneur, an archeologist and a community leader, all from Winnipeg, are among 100 Canadians who have a little extra oomph in their Canada Day celebrations today.

Gov. Gen. David Johnston released the latest list of inductees into the Order of Canada in time for the annual coast to coast celebration of Maple Leaf pride.

There are 54 men and 46 women from nine provinces on the list.

They include novelist Lawrence Hill, who once worked as the Parliamentary Correspondent for the Winnipeg Free Press, indigenous actor Graham Greene, Olympic curling champion Russ Howard, and businesswoman Christine Magee, whose voice is well known to radio and television audiences nationwide from her Sleep Country Canada ads.

Fort Garry Hotel owner Ida Albo is joining the Order as a member. Albo’s induction is a result of her “contributions to the vitality of her city as a respected business and civic leader.”

The well-known Winnipeg business woman said she had never imagined or even thought about being awarded the Order of Canada.

“I was very surprised,” she said. “I’m overwhelmed.”

Albo found out just recently she was being inducted into the order and has no idea who nominated her.

“It came right out of the blue,” she said.

But it made for a nice thing to celebrate with her family over Canada Day she said.

Susan Lewis was the longtime head of the United Way Winnipeg. She stepped down from the position in 2014 after almost two decades in the role. She helped refocus the agency’s efforts and also helped start the Winnipeg Poverty Reduction Council.

“Disbelief is more what my reaction was,” said Lewis, who got a phone call from Rideau Hall staff about six weeks ago and hasn’t been able to tell a single person until today.

“(Canada Day) will feel very special this year,” said Lewis.

She said she never imagined she’d get such a nod, but has always admired the honours greatly because she knows many very accomplished and generous people who have been inducted into the order before.

“It is a very humbling experience for me,” said Lewis.

archeologist Leigh Syms was not available for an interview. Syms is recognized for his work promoting archeology in Canada, especially among First Nations. Syms, a former curator of archeology at the Manitoba Museum, helped train aboriginal archeologists through the Aboriginal Museum Internship Program, and also worked with indigenous communities to help repatriate human remains and items found in graves and develop displays of artifacts.

Bruce Campbell, owner of Landmark Feeds Inc., is recognized for his entrepeneurship in agribusiness and his support of innovation and education in agriculture in Canada.

In 2011, the Bruce D. Campbell Farm and Food Discovery Centre opened at the University of Manitoba’s Glenlea Research Station. It is a hands-on interpretive centre to teach children where food actually comes from. A donation from Campbell and his wife helped build the centre.

The four appointments from Manitoba keep the province slightly ahead of its 3.6 per cent share of the population in terms of its proportion of the latest appointments.

Ontario had a whopping 51 of the 100 appointments, far outpacing what its share should be based on population. Quebec meanwhile had just 16 per cent of the appointments, far below its nearly 25 per cent share of the population. Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchean were also underpresented. PEI and the Territories have zero nominations.

The balance between male and female inductees is closer to the population shares than usual. Between 2010 and 2014, about two-thirds of the appointments went to men.

The federal government recently laid down $13 million over the next five years to overhaul all the honours given out in Canada, to make them more reflective of the country. Among the changes will be improved technology so nominations for the Order of Canada can be done online. Right now they have to be mailed into Rideau Hall.

The new inductees will be officially added to the Order of Canada in a ceremony at Rideau Hall later this year.

mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca