Four people with connections to York University, including graduates and honorary degree recipients, are among 27 new appointees to the Order of Ontario, the province's highest official honour for individual excellence and achievement in any field.
Ontario Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell will invest the appointees at a ceremony to be held on Jan. 20 at Queen's Park.
The York-connected appointees are:
Isabel Bassett
York alumna Isabel Bassett (MA ’73) is a Canadian broadcaster, former politician and educator. From 1999 until 2005 she was the chair and CEO of TVOntario/TFO, Ontario's provincial public television network. In 2001, York University recognized Bassett with an honorary doctor of laws degree.
Wendy Craig
Bullying expert and York alumna Wendy Craig (MA ’89, PhD ’93) is the co-founder and co-scientific director of the Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network (PREVNet). Craig, who is professor of psychology at Queen’s University, is also the recipient of a 2008 Bryden Award from the York University Alumni Association.
Anton Kuerti
Anton Kuerti is a world-renowned concert pianist and composer. He has been called one of the greatest pianists of the 20th Century. He has performed for audiences and recorded with conductors in nearly 50 countries around the world and over 150 locales in Canada. In 1985, York University recognized Kuerti’s contributions to the arts with an honorary doctor of letters degree.
Madeline Edwards
York alumna Madeline Edwards (BA ’79) is a long-time community advocate and founding member of the Congress of Black Women of Mississauga and Area Chapter. She created a program called "Suffering in Silence" to help women in her community escape abusive relationships.
Nominations for the Order of Ontario are made by members of the public and can be submitted online. For more information, visit the Ministry of Citizenship & Immigration Honours and Awards website.