Order of Canada appointees in the Arts – June 30, 2025

Miriam Toews, O.C., O.M.
Toronto, Ontario

Miriam Toews is a pre-eminent writer whose novels explore human tragedy and comedy in one fell swoop. Her unique ability to portray very human stories of overcoming adversity and finding meaning is a gift to her readers, and a source of inspiration to her adoring students and fans.

Tonya Williams, O.C.
Toronto, Ontario and Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

Tonya Williams is an esteemed actor and passionate advocate for greater access and inclusion of racialized people in film and media. Founder, executive and artistic director of Reelworld Screen Institute and Reelworld Foundation, she helped build a diverse screen industry and has left an indelible mark on Canadian and international entertainment.

Members

Ronald Joseph Bourgeois, C.M., O.N.S.
Halifax, Nova Scotia

Ronald Bourgeois has dedicated his life to promoting and sharing Acadian culture across Canada. A multidisciplinary artist with a career spanning over 40 years, he has distinguished himself in fields as diverse as song, television program and series production, cultural organization coordination and artistic direction for numerous artistic events.

Michel Cardin, C.M.
Riverview, New Brunswick

Michel Cardin has gained international recognition as a teacher, lecturer, performer and producer of baroque music. A full professor of guitar and lute at Université de Moncton’s Department of Music, he has become an unrivalled authority on the principles and techniques of baroque music performance.

Marianne Dubuc, C.M.
Montréal, Quebec

A prolific children’s book author and illustrator, Marianne Dubuc has published internationally and seen her works translated into over 30 languages. Her stories, rooted in nature and imbued with kindness, inspire readers to develop empathy, imagination and a love of reading.

Élise Gravel, C.M.
Montréal, Quebec

Children’s book author and illustrator Élise Gravel has published some 50 picture books internationally that have been translated into over a dozen languages. Her work, exploring such key topics as diversity, gender equality and social justice, has significantly contributed to developing and sharpening young people’s critical thinking skills while encouraging them to broaden their horizons.

Sky Dancer Louise Bernice Halfe, C.M.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Louise Halfe, also known by her Cree name Sky Dancer, is a poet from the Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Alberta. Acclaimed for her poetry collections, she advocates language learning and preservation, and her thought-provoking work articulates, in both Cree and English, the history and experiences of Indigenous peoples.

Thomas Peter Caven Irving, C.M.
West Vancouver, British Columbia

Tam Irving is a traditional studio potter who championed the use of local materials and created glazes by crushing rocks with his studio machines. After sculpting for three decades, he transitioned into three-dimensional still-life compositions and painting. Professor emeritus at Emily Carr University of Art and Design, he has exhibited his work internationally.

Robert R. Janes, C.M.
Canmore, Alberta

Robert R. Janes is one of Canada’s most distinguished museologists. Devoted to elevating the role of museums as an essential part of well-being in society, this ethnoarchaeologist, mentor and philanthropist played a key role in returning sacred objects to the Blackfoot Confederacy in the largest voluntary restitution of its kind in Canadian history.

Miloš J. Krajny, C.M.
Toronto, Ontario                     

Miloš Krajny is a devoted custodian and promoter of Czech musical heritage. A founding member of Toronto’s Mozart Society, he is beloved in Canada’s Czech community for launching the Nocturnes in the City music series in 2001. He is also an allergist by profession and past president of the Allergy Society of Ontario.

Michael Kevin McMahon, C.M.
Montréal, Quebec

Michael McMahon has significantly impacted Canada’s art song and opera landscape. He is a highly sought-after collaborative pianist and an advocate for raising the status of this art form. An influential vocal coach, esteemed mentor, and national and international performer, he has positively influenced the careers of many top-level artists.

Jacques Parisien, C.M.
Montréal, Quebec

Jacques Parisien worked in communications for over 40 years. He helped steer the growth of Astral Media’s radio division, positioning the company as one of the largest media enterprises in Canada. A dedicated philanthropist, he has supported several cultural, educational and community organizations, including the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts and the Pointe-à-Callière Museum.

Susan Peterson d’Aquino, C.M.
Ottawa, Ontario

Susan Peterson d’Aquino is a retired senior public servant, arts patron and philanthropist. Numerous Canadian arts and cultural institutions have been enriched by her dedicated support, including the National Arts Centre, the National Gallery of Canada and the Banff Centre for the Arts. She is equally passionate about supporting heritage conservation.

Vincenzo Pietropaolo, C.M.
Toronto, Ontario

Vincenzo Pietropaolo is an acclaimed social documentary photographer. He has published numerous books on community, faith, culture, social justice and the human condition, and is praised for providing a valuable lens on the importance of multiculturalism. He has also been featured in leading publications and exhibitions in Canada and internationally.

Michel Rabagliati, C.M., C.Q.
Montréal, Quebec

As one of the country’s most prolific cartoonists, Michel Rabagliati has put Canadian comic book culture on the international map. Through his best-known character, Paul, he has showcased the daily lives and aspirations of local people while providing audiences with a glimpse into what contemporary comics can be.

Ebonnie Rowe, C.M.
Toronto, Ontario

Ebonnie Rowe has been shaping the Canadian music industry for 30 years by supporting emerging female artists through her non-profit multicultural, multi-genre development program. An esteemed mentor in her field, she provides artists with performance and educational opportunities, as well as a safe space to be vulnerable and build confidence.

Gilbert Donald Walsh, C.M.
Peterborough, Ontario

Donnie Walsh is recognized as the father of Canadian blues music. This co-founder and leader of The Legendary Downchild Blues Band has been an instrumental figure on the national blues scene for over half a century. His music has inspired generations of acts, including international pop culture icons the Blues Brothers.

Greg Wells, C.M.
Winterton, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

Greg Wells is a Grammy-winning record producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He has worked on best-selling albums for the likes of Adele, John Legend, Rufus Wainright and Céline Dion, and on blockbuster soundtracks for Wicked and The Greatest Showman. He also funds music scholarships in Canada and donates instruments to students around the world.