More than 40 years after she was described as a threat to Canada because of her sexuality, Diane Pitre has been awarded the country’s highest honor.
A defender of 2SLGBTQ+ members of the Canadian Armed Forces, who was removed from military service in 1980 as part of what became known as the Purge, is among 88 new appointments to the Order of Canada announced Wednesday. .
They include: dead pool Movie star Ryan Reynolds, Holocaust survivor and educator Mariette Dodak, geneticist David Chitayat, curler Kevin Martin, and Heather Rankin, a member of the award-winning band Rankin Family.
Pitre said he’s still thinking about it, so he’s honored.
“I’m still in shock. It’s surreal for me. I didn’t expect it at all,” Pitre said from his home in Campbellton, New Brands.
Pitre spent the decades after his expulsion from the military lobbying for an apology from the government.
That was in 2017, when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stood in the House of Commons and apologized for past state-sanctioned discrimination against members of Canada’s 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Douglas Elliott, the lead lawyer in the purge-related class action lawsuit, was also appointed to the Order of Canada this year.
This year’s list of Canadians deemed to have made exceptional contributions to Canada includes internationally recognized E. coli expert Carlton Giles, pediatric neuro-oncology researcher Nada Javad, and speech-language pathologist Nada Javad. The list includes scientists such as Ora Kagan.
Musicians and artists on the list include Don Alder, one of the world’s top acoustic fingerstyle guitarists, internationally renowned sculptor Ruth Abernethy, and multimedia artist Stan Douglas. Included.
Gov. Mary Simon thanked the appointees for their “perseverance, fearless leadership and visionary spirit.”
“Members of the Order of Canada are builders of hope for a better future. Each in their own way expands the realm of possibility and inspires others to continue pushing the boundaries,” she said. said in a statement.
Disability rights expert Michael Prince said he choked up to tell his wife about his appointment.
“Sometimes I don’t know where those feelings are coming from and it gets a little overwhelming,” he said.
“I think the importance, or rather the meaning, was very deep. I could barely get the words out.”
Prince, a professor at the University of Victoria, advises federal, state and territory governments on disability rights and has served on four Royal Commissions.
He recently made headlines in April when he resigned from the federal government’s Disability Advisory Group due to insufficient funding for the Canada Disability Benefit.
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Canadian curling superstar Martin said he didn’t know who nominated him for the award, but was surprised and honored.
Martin’s resume includes a silver medal at the 2008 World Championships, a silver medal at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, four gold medals at the Brier, and he also holds the record for 17 Grand Slam titles.
Rideau Hall recognizes Martin for guiding the development of the sport’s competitiveness and for his contributions to the sport as a broadcaster, speaker, businessman and teacher.
“Whatever part of society you live in, whatever you’re doing to grow, do your best and do your best,” he said.
“And when something like this happens, it’s great. But it’s unexpected.”
Pitre is the founder and co-chair of the Rainbow Veterans Association of Canada and said despite progress, he will continue his work.
“I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I’m going to keep doing it because you don’t want things to change. [back]. We don’t know when something like that will happen again,” she said.
New members of the Order are invited to a ceremony to receive their insignia. A statement from Rideau Hall said a ceremony will be announced “in due course.”
