Statement made on 09 June 2011 by Senator Claudette Tardif
Hon. Claudette Tardif (Deputy Leader of the Opposition):
Honourable senators, on Friday, May 27, I had the great honour and pleasure of attending the Order of Canada investiture ceremony at Rideau Hall.
The Order of Canada is the cornerstone of our honours system. This award pays tribute to Canadians who exemplify the highest civic virtues and who contribute to the development of their contemporaries.
As a proud Albertan, I would like to mention here in this chamber the appointment of two individuals from my birth province to the Order of Canada.
First, I would like to highlight the fact that Georges Arès, a champion of the French language in Alberta and in Canada. Having held leadership positions within various organizations, he notably served as president of the Association canadienne-française de l'Alberta. As president, he helped to establish the first publicly funded francophone school and played a major role in securing the right for Franco-Albertans to manage their own schools.
Mr. Arès was also a strong voice for francophones in western Canada during the review of the Official Languages Act. Moreover, as president of the Federation des communautes francophones et acadienne du Canada, he worked to strengthen ties between francophone and Acadian communities and other segments of our society, including First Nations, Quebecers and ethnocultural communities.
I would also like to offer my most heartfelt congratulations to the Honourable Anne McLellan, who was appointed to the rank of Officer of the Order of Canada. Anne McLellan is recognized nationally for her policy, scholarly, parliamentary and community work. She has held senior federal cabinet positions in the areas of justice, natural resources, health and public safety. As Minister of Health, she oversaw the creation of the Canadian Patient Safety Institute and the Health Council of Canada. She is currently the distinguished scholar-in-residence at the Institute for United States Policy Studies at the University of Alberta, and also volunteers with and serves on the boards of numerous organizations throughout the province of Alberta.
Honourable senators, these two Albertans have made significant contributions toward the betterment of our society and of our country. I congratulate them for this well-deserved recognition. Félicitations!