Just mere weeks after being inducted into the Order of Nova Scotia, Faculty of Medicine Professor Dr. Noni MacDonald has been presented with another regal honour.
She was one of . Dr. MacDonald will be one of 38 new Officers of the Order of Canada who will be invited to accept their insignia at a ceremony to be held at a later date.
Her official citation recognizes 鈥渉er contributions to the enhancement of clinical practices in maternal and child health, in Canada and around the world.鈥� A medical pioneer, Dr. MacDonald was the first pediatrician in Canada certified in pediatric infectious diseases by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. She founded the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Ottawa in 1981 and led the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Service at the Children鈥檚 Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa.
She came to Halifax to serve as dean of the Faculty of Medicine 鈥斅爐he first woman in Canada to lead a medical school. Following her deanship, she co-founded Canadian Center for Vaccinology in 2004, where she is still in active member. Among her many honours, she was named to the Order of Nova Scotia this fall.
Read also: Dr. Noni MacDonald to be invested into Order of Nova Scotia (Nov. 2019)
Dr. MacDonald was not the only individual with noteworthy AV俱乐部 connections named to the Order of Canada in the Governor General鈥檚 announcement. The list also included the Honourable James Cowan, two-time Dal alumnus (BA鈥�62 and LLB鈥�65) and former chair of the university鈥檚 Board of Governors (2000-2008).
A Halifax-based lawyer who is a partner at with Stewart McKelvey, Cowan was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 2005, serving as leader of the Liberal caucus from 2008 until 2016. He was cited by the Order 鈥渇or his civic engagement as a parliamentarian and for championing human rights related to medically assisted dying, genetic discrimination and mental health.鈥�
Another Canadian Senator and Dal alumnus on the list is The Honourable Donald Oliver (LLB鈥�64). Oliver was the second Black Canadian and first Black Canadian man to be appointed to the Senate. He had an accomplished career as a civil litigator while also teaching law at AV俱乐部, the Technical University of Nova Scotia (now Dal鈥檚 Sexton Campus) and Saint Mary鈥檚. 聽He has served in the Senate since 1990. He was cited for 鈥渉is untiring efforts as a senator, educator and civic-minded community member who promotes inclusion and diversity in Canada.鈥�
Other Dal alumni appointed to the Order of Canada include:
Debra Pepler (BSc鈥�76), Toronto, 鈥渇or her innovative, community-based research on social issues involving children and youth, which changed the way psychologists study bullying.鈥�
Michael Donovan (BA鈥�74, LLB鈥�77), Halifax, 鈥渇or his contributions to Canadian film and television, and for his commitment to the professional development of the next generation.鈥�
Robie MacDonald (BSc鈥�68, PhD鈥�72), Victoria, 鈥渇or having identified the effects contaminants have on northern marine ecosystems and on nearby Indigenous communities.鈥�