Twelve named to Order of Manitoba

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This article was published 12/05/2023 (943 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The next recipients of the Order of Manitoba have been announced.

The award, established in 1999, acknowledges people who have contributed to the province in a meaningful way.

This year’s appointments to the order include Frantic Films CEO Jamie Brown, 103.1 Virgin Radio host Ace Burpee, rock music historian and former Free Press freelance writer John Einarson, former judge and Manitoba Liberal leader Charles Huband, former senator Janis Johnson, medical researcher Dr. Lorrie Kirshenbaum, retired social worker and community volunteer Terumi Kuwada, Price Industries Ltd. CEO and philanthropist Gerry Price, community advocate Alvina Rundle, family physician Dr. Richard Smith, Alyssa Stevenson Eating Disorder Memorial Trust co-founder Elaine Stevenson and community leader and advocate Amarjeet Warraich.

A ceremony is scheduled at the legislative building on July 20.

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Recipients of the 2023 Order of Manitoba

Jamie Brown

Jamie Brown has served as the CEO and executive producer of Frantic Films since 2000. In these roles, he has helped build one of Manitoba and Canada’s most successful film and television companies. Winning awards in Canada and abroad for his innovation, creativity and business leadership, he is a tireless community volunteer and an advocate of Manitoba’s creative sector.

David (Ace) Burpee

From Cooks Creek, Manitoba, David “Ace” Burpee is the widely recognizable host of The Ace Burpee Show on 103.1 Virgin Radio. A tireless volunteer and mental health advocate, he has championed countless charitable causes and people across the province, using his platform to continuously raise awareness, support and funds for worthy causes.

John Einarson

A former award-winning high school history teacher, John Einarson is a widely respected broadcaster and rock music historian. He is the author of more than a dozen critically acclaimed music biographies and contributed to A&E’s Neil Young Biography episode and CBC’s The Life & Times of Randy Bachman.

Charles Huband

Charles Huband is an accomplished lawyer, judge, political leader and community activist, having lent his time and talents to important causes in the community for over 60 years. He was instrumental in the creation of Prairie Theatre Exchange over 50 years ago and was the cofounder of the Westminster Housing Society.

Janis Johnson

Janis Johnson served in the Canadian Senate for over 25 years, making her longest serving Manitoba senator. An advocate for both the cultural sector and women’s health and education, she contributed to the founding of the Mature Women’s Health Clinic (now the Women’s Health Centre) and founded the Gimli Film Festival. She chairs the Valuing the Icelandic Presence Committee at the University of Manitoba and assisted in the development of Qaumajuq.

Dr. Lorrie Kirshenbaum

One of Canada’s most prominent scientific leaders, Dr. Lorrie Kirshenbaum’s pioneering research on cardiac cell death has transformed cardiovascular care worldwide. He has earned an international reputation for research excellence and is best known for his work in understanding why the cells of the heart die after a heart attack and in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Terumi Kuwada

A retired social worker and dedicated community volunteer, Terumi Kuwada has been a strong advocate in the areas of human rights and social justice for more than 35 years. Her long-standing commitment to human rights and promoting respect and understanding between ethnic groups is illustrated through her work with many organizations including United Way Winnipeg and the National Association of Japanese Canadians.

Gerry Price

An accomplished business executive and philanthropist, Gerry Price is chair and CEO of Price Industries Limited, one of the province’s largest private employers. Dr. Price and his family support charities and capital campaigns in Manitoba across many areas including children and families, youth mentorships, education and scholarships, health care and other community-led initiatives.

Alvina Rundle

A community advocate for Lake St. Martin and beyond, Alvina Rundle is dedicated to helping Indigenous people involved in the justice system. She was instrumental in establishing courts in remote Indigenous communities and recruiting court Elders to serve, while also providing language interpretation services and sentencing assistance to respective case judges.

Dr. Richard Smith

Dr. Richard Smith is a Manitoba family physician who has dedicated most of his 52-year professional career to saving lives and advocating for those impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Manitoba. He is a leader in the provision of clinical excellence to people often ostracized for their sexual orientation or lifestyle, and established the Village Clinic, which eventually became the Nine Circles Community Health Centre.

Elaine Stevenson

For more than 30 years, Elaine Stevenson has been a dedicated, effective advocate for children, youth and adults with eating disorders. Inspired by her own personal tragedy of losing her daughter to an eating disorder, she co-founded the Alyssa Stevenson Eating Disorder Memorial Trust, with a mission to bring about essential change in the care and treatment of eating disorders in Manitoba and across Canada.

Amarjeet Warraich

Amarjeet Warraich is a community leader and advocate, particularly in the provision of support to new Indo-Canadian citizens. During his tenure as commissioner of Manitoba’s Human Rights Commission, he oversaw a period of landmark new initiatives in the province including the proclamation of the Manitoba Human Rights Code in 1988, and measures respecting the rights of women, people with disabilities, Indigenous peoples and the LGBTTQ+ community.

 

— staff