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Order of Ontario 2025 Awards

  • Feb 19
  • 3 min read

The province’s highest civilian honour — awarded for excellence in any field, and for having a lasting impact in our province, country and around the world.


News Release | February 19th, 2026

TORONTO — The Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and Chancellor of the Order of Ontario, announced 30 new appointments to the Order of Ontario for 2025.


The Order of Ontario recognizes those whose distinguished service and extraordinary achievements have helped build a stronger Ontario and Canada. Members of the Order come from all walks of life and represent many fields, including public service, skilled trades, business, technology, mining, sports, the arts, health care, science and many more.


“The 2025 Order of Ontario appointees represent the very best of our province,” said the Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. “Through their exceptional dedication and achievements, they have made profound contributions that have touched lives across Ontario and beyond. May their remarkable examples continue to inspire us all to work together for the greater good.”


The 2025 Order of Ontario appointees will be invested at a ceremony in Toronto in 2026.

“On behalf of the Government of Ontario, I extend my congratulations to all appointees being honoured,” said Graham McGregor, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism. “These inspiring individuals have demonstrated dedication and leadership in a wide range of careers and pursuits, making a lasting difference in our communities and reflecting the very best of our province.”


The 2025 appointees to the Order of Ontario are:


  • Ahmad Attia

  • Cameron Bailey

  • Arron Barberian

  • Major-General (Retd) Jean-Robert Bernier, OMM, CD

  • John B.W. Carmichael

  • Jamaica Cass

  • Don Cherry

  • Donette Chin-Loy Chang

  • Robert James Cusimano

  • Philip J. Devereaux

  • Morris Freedman

  • Jacques Frémont

  • Kathleen Gartke

  • Amanda Grzyb

  • Zabeen Hirji, MSM

  • Shirley Horn

  • Bernard Lawless

  • Nathan Leipciger, CM

  • David MacNaughton

  • Joe Mancinelli

  • Claudette McGowan, CM

  • Tracy Moore

  • Edward Rogers

  • Richard Rooney

  • John L. Semple

  • Nancy Mei Chun Siew

  • Stephen J. R. Smith

  • The Honourable George Strathy

  • J. David Wake, KC

  • Mary Wells


Quick Facts


  • Order of Ontario nominations for 2026 are currently being accepted until Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Learn more about the Order of Ontario and how to nominate someone here.

  • Appointments to the Order are made on the recommendation of an independent advisory council based on the merit of accomplishments of nominees put forward by members of the public.

  • 933 exceptional individuals have been appointed to the Order of Ontario since it was established in 1986.

  • Members are invested with the Order’s insignia at an investiture ceremony. Appointees are given the post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials or post-nominal titles (letters placed after a person’s name) to indicate the honour held by the individual.


Additional Resources



About the Order of Ontario

The Order of Ontario is the province’s highest civilian honour. It is awarded to an Ontarian who has shown the highest level of excellence and achievement in their field, and whose impact has left a legacy in our province, in our country and around the world.

Members of the Order are a collective of Ontario’s finest citizens, whose contributions have shaped — and continue to shape — the province’s history and place in Canada.


Excellence in any field

You can nominate someone for achievements and excellence in any field. Some examples include:

  • business and technology

  • healthcare and medicine

  • education and academia

  • engineering and architecture

  • skilled trades

  • mining

  • arts and culture

  • sports and entertainment

  • law and social justice

  • media and journalism

  • social and community services

  • science and aerospace

  • literature and writing

  • environment and conservation


Eligibility


The person you nominate (the nominee) must be:

  • a long-term or former resident of Ontario (the nominee does not need to be a Canadian citizen)

  • someone whose career, in any field, has had a major impact or influence on the province, Canada and around the world

  • living at the time of nomination


People who are not eligible

You cannot nominate:

  • yourself

  • someone who has passed away

  • an elected federal, provincial or municipal politician currently in office

  • a sitting judge of any court

  • one of Ontario’s legislative officers while in office:

    • auditor general

    • ombudsman

    • information and privacy commissioner

    • financial accountability officer

    • integrity commissioner

    • chief electoral officer

  • a volunteer

  • someone for acts of bravery

No person may be appointed to the Order posthumously, unless death occurs following the council’s recommendation for appointment.


Deadline


Nominations are now open.

The deadline to nominate someone is March 31 of each year.

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