Throughout Canada, a number of individuals have received a King Charles III Coronation Medal. According to the Canadian government website, It's for those who have have made a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region or community of Canada, or have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada.
Three talented local musicians have earned this distinctive honour:
We could not find a complete listing of medal recipients so if anyone knows any other local music-related award winners, please email us blueshamilton@gmail.com and tell us about it. We may add them to this post. Thanks.
This is a very emotional and unexpected moment for me.
I bring with me Bunny and George Wilson , the two people who gave me a fighting chance, my family and every one of my Mohawk ancestors.
I hope this appointment will help to influence the results of my work for indigenous education and support my positive intentions as I help bring a deeper awareness of the true history of this country and the power and beauty of indigenous people forward through my art my writing and my music.
The future generations depend on the hard work we do today .
I’d like to thank my long time friend and art associate Stewart Pollock for bringing me into this circle of outstanding Canadians. I met Stewart in grade 9 at Sherwood Secondary Alumni on the East Mountain. We made mischief and got ourselves into plenty of trouble. I never would have imagined back then that Stew and I would soon be being standing toe to toe being honoured by the Governor General.
Below is the complete list of appointments.
Members of the Order of Canada
Thomas Cunningham Wilson, C.M. (Hamilton, Ontario) For his multifaceted contributions to the arts in Canada, notably as an iconic musician, as well as for his advocacy of Indigenous communities in Canada.
Rhoda E. Howard-Hassmann, C.M. (Hamilton, Ontario) For her extensive scholarly contributions and steadfast commitment to the advancement of international human rights.
Gary Rush Purdy, C.M. (Hamilton, Ontario) For his innovative contributions to the field of materials science and engineering, and for his dedicated support for refugees, peace efforts and social justice.
Rola Dagher, C.M. (Oakville, Ontario) For her contributions as an inspiring and impactful leader in the technology sector, and as a champion of diversity and inclusion.
Santee Smith Tekaronhiáhkhwa, C.M. (Ohswé:ken, Six Nations of the Grand River, Ontario) For her contributions as a leading Indigenous artist in performance and dance.
Lydia Muriel Adams, C.M. (Glace Bay, Nova Scotia and Caledon East, Ontario) For her enduring dedication and contributions to the growth of Canadian choral music, as a leading conductor, educator, accompanist and composer.
Barbara Assiginaak, C.M., O.Ont. (Sucker Lake, Ontario) For her diverse contributions to contemporary music as a classically trained musician rooted in Anishinaabe teachings.
Wendy Ruth Eisen, C.M. (Toronto, Ontario) For her commitment to enhancing the welfare of Jewish people and Canadian society as a whole through her philanthropy, volunteerism and activism.
Robert J. Foster, C.M. (Toronto, Ontario) For his visionary leadership and acumen as a successful entrepreneur and for his transformational contributions to developing Toronto’s arts communities.
Joan Heather Garson, C.M. (Toronto, Ontario) For her leadership and governance of numerous non-profit organizations within Jewish communities across Canada and around the world.
Gary Daniel Goldberg, C.M. (Toronto, Ontario) For his decades of philanthropic leadership and contributions to scientific, health, environmental and educational initiatives.
Richard B. Larson, C.M. (Toronto, Ontario and New Haven, Connecticut) For his seminal contributions to our understanding of star formation and galaxy evolution, as a distinguished astronomer and astrophysicist.
John Anthony Lederer, C.M. (Toronto, Ontario) For his leadership in business, and for his philanthropy in support of the community and health sectors.
Daniel Levy, C.M. (Toronto, Ontario and Los Angeles, California) For his trailblazing advocacy of 2SLGBTQI+ communities, and for advancing Canadian television as a critically acclaimed actor, writer, director and producer.
Jean Eleanor Marmoreo, C.M. (Toronto, Ontario) For her long-time contributions as a family doctor and specialist in women’s midlife health care, and for her advocacy of medical assistance in dying.
Ann Martin Shaw, C.M. (Toronto, Ontario) For her decades-long commitment to the sport of figure skating as an official, educator and mentor.
Stephen Stohn, C.M. (Toronto, Ontario) For his long-time contributions to the Canadian entertainment industry, notably as a television producer, lawyer, mentor and advocate for artists.
Susan Swan, C.M. (Toronto, Ontario) For her contributions to Canadian literature and culture, and for her mentorship of the next generation of writers.
Ronald Gold, C.M. (Scarborough, Ontario) For his pioneering work to eradicate meningitis globally and for his mentorship of the next generation of pediatric specialists.
John William Beaucage, C.M. (Parry Sound, Ontario) For his exemplary leadership and commitment to advancing the well-being and prosperity of Indigenous communities in Canada.
Charles William Gordon, C.M. (Ottawa, Ontario) For his exceptional body of work as a distinguished journalist and author who has educated, enlightened and entertained Canadians for decades.
Richard Jean L’Abbé, C.M. (Ottawa, Ontario) For his contributions to the field of explosive ordnance disposal through his company Med-Eng, and for his support of engineering students.
Peter Showler, C.M. (Ottawa, Ontario) For his leadership in immigration and refugee law, and for his mentorship of the next generation of refugee lawyers.
Norman Kiyomitsu Takeuchi, C.M. (Ottawa, Ontario) For his enduring commitment to honouring, preserving and sharing the history and heritage of Japanese Canadians.
A. Leona Irons-Cummings, C.M. (Curve Lake, Ontario) For her lifelong commitment to the responsible and sustainable management of Indigenous lands.
Mathilde Françoise Gravelle-Bazinet, C.M.(North Bay, Ontario) For her decades of service and contributions to health care, justice and education.
Don McDougall, C.M. (Stratford, Ontario) For his visionary leadership as the founding director of the Toronto Blue Jays club, and for his entrepreneurship and philanthropy.
Morag Barbara Arneil, C.M. (Vancouver, British Columbia) For her wide-ranging and impactful studies on political theory, as well as for her leadership in the political science field and her mentorship of young scholars.
Savage Bear, C.M. (Montreal Lake Cree Nation, Saskatchewan) For her contributions to Indigenous studies and for her committed community engagement.
Normand Caissie, C.M., O.N.B. (Richibucto, New Brunswick) For his innovative entrepreneurship and generous philanthropy, which have been major economic drivers in his community.
Sarah Alexandra Carter, C.M. (Edmonton, Alberta) For her pioneering work on Indigenous history and women’s history in Western Canada, as a distinguished scholar, professor and mentor.
Elder Harley Kim Crowshoe, C.M. (Piikani Nation, Alberta) For helping to improve the outcomes and experiences of Indigenous peoples and communities in his province and beyond.
Jayanne English, C.M. (Winnipeg, Manitoba) For her innovative work at the crossroads of science and art, and for making astronomy accessible to all.
John Fleetham, C.M. (Vancouver, British Columbia) For his pioneering work in sleep disorder medicine and for his mentorship of the next generation of sleep scientists.
Thomas Fredric Garfat, C.M. (Rosemère, Quebec) For his pioneering contributions to child and youth care, both in Canada and abroad.
Paul Joseph Gauthier, C.M. (Vancouver, British Columbia) For his social entrepreneurship and for his advocacy of people living with disabilities in British Columbia.
Terry Hunter, C.M. (Vancouver, British Columbia) For his visionary, community-engaged arts practise with, for and about Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, notably as executive director of Vancouver Moving Theatre.
G. Lynn Jones, C.M. (Halifax, Nova Scotia) For her leadership in the Canadian labour movement, and in advancing equity, justice and human rights in her province and abroad.
Beverly Janet Lemire, C.M. (Edmonton, Alberta) For her significant contributions to the study of material culture, notably through her seminal scholarship on the history of textiles.
Donald Alexander MacPherson, C.M. (Vancouver, British Columbia) For his long-time advocacy of harm reduction and evidence-based approaches to drug policy reform.
Holly Susan McNally, C.M. (Victoria, British Columbia) For advancing Canada’s literary scene through community-based programming in support of local, regional and national independent writers and publishers.
Paul McNally, C.M. (Victoria, British Columbia) For advancing Canada’s literary scene through community-based programming in support of local, regional and national independent writers and publishers.
Robert Michaud, C.M. (Québec, Quebec) For his ongoing contributions to our understanding of marine mammals, notably in the St. Lawrence River.
Robert Edward Mitchell, C.M. (Westmount, Quebec) For his many decades of contributions to the field of intellectual property, both nationally and internationally.
Peter R. O’Brien, C.M. (Montréal, Quebec) For his committed volunteer leadership of health, education and faith-based organizations in his community.
Grant Norval Pierce, C.M., O.M. (Winnipeg, Manitoba) For his contributions as a distinguished professor in the field of pathophysiology, and for identifying the value of nutraceuticals in the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Léo-Paul Pinet, C.M., O.N.B. (Bertrand, New Brunswick) For his decades of community service, notably with the Centre de Bénévolat de la Péninsule Acadienne Inc.
Evan Price, C.M. (Québec, Quebec) For his contributions to the betterment of society as an entrepreneur and philanthropist.
Jeff Reading, C.M. (Victoria, British Columbia) For his groundbreaking contributions to Indigenous health research and for his leadership in bringing Indigenous perspectives to scientific and health institutions.
Mike H. Shaikh, C.M. (Calgary, Alberta) For his committed community volunteerism and philanthropy across numerous sectors in Calgary and Alberta.
Sally Elizabeth Thorne, C.M.(Vancouver, British Columbia) For her extensive contributions to the practice and discipline of nursing, as a researcher, academic and leader.
Mary A. Tidlund, C.M. (Canmore, Alberta) For her innovative leadership in the oil and gas industry, and for her transformational philanthropy in Canada and abroad.
Gérard Trudeau, C.M. (Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec) For his groundbreaking contributions to agriculture and to the fruit and vegetable industry, as a tireless business leader and sought-after mentor.
Carole Vivier, C.M., O.M. (Winnipeg, Manitoba) For her leadership in Manitoba’s film and music industry, bolstering the province’s reputation as a thriving arts scene and international cultural hub.
Keith R. Walley, C.M.(Vancouver, British Columbia) For his innovative and translational research in the field of sepsis and septic shock.
Savannah Tennessee Elaine Walling, C.M.(Vancouver, British Columbia) For her visionary, community-engaged arts practise with, for and about Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, notably as artistic director of Vancouver Moving Theatre.
Clifford A. Wallis, C.M. (Calgary, Alberta) For his dedication to advancing nature conservation and restoration in Alberta, as an esteemed biologist and naturalist.
Daniel Marc Weinstock, C.M. (Montréal, Quebec) For his exemplary contributions to the advancement of political philosophy, public policy and social justice in Canada, as a renowned ethicist, philosopher and public intellectual.
Samuel Weiss, C.M. (Calgary, Alberta) For his groundbreaking discoveries in neuroscience that have led to novel approaches in the treatment of brain disorders.
Michael Wulder, C.M. (Victoria, British Columbia) For his internationally recognized innovations in the field of remote sensing for mapping and monitoring land cover.
Officers of the Order of Canada
Andy Kim, O.C. (Toronto, Ontario) For his contributions to Canadian music as a trailblazer and legendary artist.
Kent Monkman, O.C. (Toronto, Ontario) For his achievements as one of Canada’s most dynamic contemporary artists.
Irwin Elman, O.C. (Toronto, Ontario) For his consummate advocacy of children and youth, and for his transformational listening tours that give voice to society’s most vulnerable.
Bruce Poon Tip, O.C. (Toronto, Ontario) For his considerable pioneering impact on community-driven, sustainable tourism, at both the local and international levels.
Richard Keith Reznick, O.C. (Toronto, Ontario) For his innovative contributions to the field of medical and surgical education.
The Honourable Robert James Sharpe, O.C. (Toronto, Ontario) For his distinguished contributions to the advancement of law in Canada as both a judge and academic.
Masai Michael Ujiri, O.C. (Toronto, Ontario) For his contributions on and off the basketball court, as a humanitarian and an NBA president.
Jeffrey Ian Weitz, O.C. (Toronto, Ontario) For his outstanding contributions to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of clotting disorders, and for his leadership in the fields of thrombosis and hemostasis.
Will Kymlicka, O.C. (Kingston, Ontario) For his prominent contributions to political philosophy, notably his application of liberal theory to multiculturalism and minority rights.
Joseph L. Pater, O.C. (Kingston, Ontario) For his outstanding contributions to the fields of cancer research and treatment, and for his leadership in cancer clinical research in Canada.
Johnny N. Adams, O.C., C.Q. (Kuujjuaq, Quebec) For advancing economic and social development within Indigenous communities, as an esteemed executive leader and business entrepreneur.
lax̌lax̌tkʷ Jeannette Christine Armstrong, O.C. (Penticton, British Columbia) For her contributions to Canadian literature through her novels and poetry, and for her leadership in revitalizing the Silyx Okanagan Indigenous language.
Kerry S. Courneya, O.C. (Edmonton, Alberta) For his groundbreaking research in exercise oncology which has transformed health guidelines in the treatment of a range of cancers.
Keith Stephen Dobson, O.C. (Calgary, Alberta) For his contributions as a world-leading expert in depression and anxiety, and as an advocate of mental health and wellness in Canada and abroad.
Sheree Lynn Fitch, O.C. (River John, Nova Scotia) For her outstanding contributions to children's literature and to the Canadian literary community, as a writer, poet and literacy advocate.
Haissam Haddad, O.C. (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) For his contributions to medicine, notably with the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Saskatchewan.
Chief 7IDANsuu James Hart, O.C., O.B.C. (Old Massett, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia) For his long-time contributions to Haida art and to the cultural mentoring of youth, and for raising awareness of social issues.
James Igloliorte, O.C. (St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador) For his contributions as a provincial court judge, and for his transformational leadership at the helm of prominent public inquiries.
Michael Norman George James, O.C.: (Edmonton, Alberta) For his groundbreaking contributions to the field of protein crystallography.
Marc Messier, O.C., M.S.C. (Montréal, Quebec) For his long-standing contributions to Quebec’s artistic and cultural landscape on stage and screen.
Kathryn Moran, O.C. (Victoria, British Columbia) For her innovative leadership as a researcher, policy advisor and administrator in ocean engineering and climate action.
Nigel Graham Shrive, O.C. (Calgary, Alberta) For his groundbreaking contributions to structural mechanics, notably his translational and multidisciplinary research in both biomedical and civil engineering.
Companions to the Order of Canada
Alan Bernstein, C.C., O.Ont. (Toronto, Ontario) For his enduring impact on Canadian health research and science policy as a visionary leader and steadfast supporter of future generations of researchers. This is a promotion within the Order.
Leo Gerard, C.C. (Sudbury, Ontario) For his vast and influential work in labour advocacy, notably as the seventh international president of the United Steelworkers union.
Clément Gascon, C.C., K.C. (Montréal, Quebec) For his exceptional contributions to Canadian law and for his deep commitment to destigmatizing mental illness, particularly within the legal community.
It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Hamilton conductor, artistic director and motivational speaker Boris Brott. He passed away on April 5, 2022 as a result of a hit and run accident. Our condolences to his family, friends and fans.
It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the sudden and tragic passing of the one and only musical genius and Canadian artistic visionary Boris Brott. He will be sorely missed by all who appreciated his unsurpassed talent and by those who loved him. More details will be released later. As family and staff process this unthinkable news, we ask for privacy at this time.
I saw him literally two days ago at a concert in Hamilton. We had a great chat about how he was still so engaged in his work, his music, and his family, and showed no interest in slowing down. I've known Boris my whole life. The music world in general and Hamiltonians in particular mourn his loss
My heart aches with profound sadness to hear this tragic news. "Stay strong and optimistic..." were some of the last words written to me from Boris Brott just a few weeks ago, a man who has impacted my life and been connected to my family in many beautiful ways since I was young.
If you were a kid in the 80s, you would be sure to have gone to Hamilton Place to see this incredible man conduct the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra. My family also went regularly throughout my childhood to the children's series he put on at Hamilton Place-- it was my absolute favourite.
Boris made the stories come fully alive with the music as he spoke to the children in the audience with such tenderness and love. It was so memorable. I then shared the stage with Boris at Hamilton Place for a Hamilton fundraiser event during the years I had played Annie.
In my teens, I worked as a waitress at Cleveland's house resort and for 2 weeks had the honour of being the daily server for Boris and his family. I would get so caught up at the table chatting with him and his wife Ardyth, his beloved wife whom I absolutely admired. During their stay at Cleveland's House, Boris took me out fishing for the day with his son when a storm came up quickly and at that moment, Boris' boat stalled and we were quickly drifting into the rocks. Boris so calmly and stoically called out to shore, "Ahoy! ...... Ahoy!" ... It was an incredibly joyful day as we were soon towed to shore and had such a good laugh.
I stayed in touch with Boris for some time and my family continued to know him and connect with him in Muskoka. Most recently, I felt so honoured when he reached out with a phone call after hearing my father had passed away. Our conversation covered so much ground. He wanted to know everything about my life and his compassionate eye for my losses warmed heart so much as he wished me true happiness and love in my life. He told me how he had such a tender spot for my parents in his heart too and we promised we would keep in touch. We had such a good laugh again that day.
Since then we have emailed several times and he has helped me navigate some of my musical endeavours. I was hoping to play with him one day, and even had a dream of playing at the Arts Centre in the Yukon with him. His kindness was so natural and genuine. His interest in the well-being of others so honest and true. I felt so incredibly honoured to be back in touch with you, Boris Brott.
Thank you for the music, for the genuine human connection and as you said about your own father just days ago on Facebook, you were also "the embodiment of kindness". My heart goes out to Ardyth and the family, friends and colleagues and everyone who was impacted by such a gifted man, Boris Brott. RIP Boris Brott. Keep a watchful eye on us down here... Always in my heart. Ahoy!
I am very shocked and extremely saddened to hear the news of the tragic and senseless hit-and-run death of Canadian musical icon Boris Brott! I have so many fond memories of working with him in the various roles we shared with each other. He was larger than life…so full of life and living…a true visionary! He put the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra on the map, internationally, and did things with them that no other orchestra had done before.
I am so glad to have been able to perform under his baton as a student, and to work with him through various projects as an adult. My heart goes out to his family, his friends and the many musicians who have been touched by his artistry over his career. May he RIP!
On March 5, 2020 at The Hamilton Convention Centre, the YWCA will hold the Hamilton Women of Distinction Awards gala. The event will celebrate the achievements of many remarkable ladies. Recently, the nominee list was unveiled and a few members of the Hammer's musical community were nominated
Recently, local company Marz Homesstarted up the second season of their YouTube music video series,Marz Garage. This is an amazing showcase for Hamilton artists.
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