It’s Canada’s highest civilian honour — and three Concordians will receive the red-and-white insignia that carries the top distinction at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.
Governor General of Canada David Johnston, LLD 16, announced this year’s 113 Order of Canada appointees and promotions on June 30 — only weeks after Concordia gave him an honorary doctorate on June 6.
Now in its 49th year, those being honoured with appointments include prominent figures such as economists, social advocates and athletes. Selection is based on achievement, community involvement and civic engagement.
Here are three Concordia community members being appointed or promoted to the order this year.
A household name among art historians, Laurier Lacroix, BA 71, was named a member of the Order of Canada.
An expert in pre-1930 French-Canadian art, Lacroix is being recognized for promoting the creative heritage of Quebec and Canada. A professor at Université du Québec à Montréal, Lacroix taught at Concordia from 1976 to 1986.
This isn’t his first civilian honour — Lacroix received a Prix du Québec for his cultural impact in 2008. He is the co-editor of the Journal of Canadian Art History.
Ned Goodman, LLD 97, was appointed to the order for his business leadership and philanthropy.
Goodman is the chairman of Toronto-based holding company Dundee Corporation, which he founded in 1984. He established the Ned Goodman Institute of Investment Management at Concordia’s John Molson School of Business in 2001.
His appointment as a member of the Order of Canada is based on his success as an investor and on his support of education, culture and healthcare.
Serge Godin, LLD 00, was promoted within the Order of Canada to the status of officer.
Godin started his company, Conseillers en gestion et informatique (CGI), in a basement office with $5,000 in 1976. Today, CGI is the fifth largest information technology and business services firm in the world. Godin received an honorary degree from Concordia in 2000.
He was promoted within the order — from member to the designation of officer — in recognition of his enterprising success and philanthropy. Godin adds this honour to the Ordre national du Quebec he received in 2007.
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