They Desire a Better Country/Ils dsirent une patrie meilleure

Twice a year, in summer and in winter, appointments to the Order of Canada are posted in newspapers across the country. The range of professions represented is often dizzying, but there are common themes in the choices: excellence, service to the nation, passion, innovation, commitment, dedication, brilliance. The order’s motto effectively captures the generous and selfless spirit of these people: Desiderantes meliorem patriam—they desire a better country. The Order of Canada—our nation’s highest honour—was launched fifty years ago in 1967 by then-Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson. Since then, almost seven thousand Canadians have received the award for service to their communities, to the nation and, in some cases, to the world. To celebrate the Order of Canada’s fiftieth anniversary in 2017, the Rideau Hall Foundation commissioned this exceptional book with the aim of encouraging Canadians to learn about some of the remarkable individuals who have garnered this prestigious award. And although this book captures only a handful of their stories, it is a reflection of the inspiration all Order of Canada members bestow upon us. You’ll meet luminaries and unheralded wave-makers alike, of every age, from coast to coast to coast, and marvel at the breathtaking diversity of their achievements. You may learn things about celebrated individuals that you didn’t know before, and be introduced to extraordinary people whose names and work are unfamiliar, but who nonetheless have made a lasting impact. Choosing recipients for the Order of Canada is an elaborate process. Any citizen can nominate another citizen. Every year, between four hundred and six hundred names are filed with the Chancellery of Honours, the branch of the Governor General’s office that oversees the selection process. Members of the Order are recognized for their contributions at a local or regional level. Officers of the Order earn it for service or accomplishment at the national level. And Companions of the Order are recognized for pre-eminent service with international impact. In 1967, though, one of the biggest obstacles to the creation of the Order of Canada was its design. What would it look like? The graphic designer whose job it was to create the insignia for the Order nervously pondered his weighty assignment. One afternoon, as he walked out from his office, it started to snow....