Queen’s University professor emeritus and Nobel laureate Art McDonald was honoured as an “Ambassador of Canadian science, who has not lost touch with his Nova Scotia roots,” on Thursday, Sept. 15, when it was announced that he was one of five distinguished individuals to receive the Order of Nova Scotia.

“It is a great honour for me to be recognized in this way by my home province,” says Dr. McDonald. “One particularly nice aspect of this award is that my mother, who is in her nineties, can attend the ceremony. I had a wonderful opportunity to lead an excellent group of international scientists in the SNO project and am very grateful for the scientific collaboration that lead to our success.”

Dr. McDonald was invested in the Order in recognition of his lengthy career in science and his discovery of neutrino masses – a discovery which changed the world’s understanding of the innermost workings of matter. Dr. McDonald grew up in Nova Scotia, earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Dalhousie University in Halifax, and has maintained close ties to the province throughout his life.

“The Order of Nova Scotia recognizes residents, past and present, who have distinguished themselves and their province through their achievements.” says Steven Liss, Vice-Principal (Research). “On behalf of the Queen’s community, I congratulate Dr. McDonald on this tremendous recognition from the province in which he grew up.”

Established in 2001, the Order of Nova Scotia is the highest honour in the province. Canadian citizens who are present or former long-term residents of the province who have made “outstanding contributions or achievements” are eligible for nomination to the order. Dr. McDonald and his co-recipients will be formally invested in the order at a ceremony on October 12.

For more information about the Order of Nova Scotia, visit the Government of Nova Scotia’s Protocol Office website.