Queen’s University professor emeritus Arthur McDonald capped off a banner year in 2015 with an appointment as a Companion of the Order of Canada.

The honour is in recognition of Dr. McDonald’s, “eminent contributions to particle physics, which have broadened our understanding of the universe and brought renown to Canadian science,” according to the award citation.

“The Order of Canada recognizes outstanding achievement and dedication to the community and to Canada,” says Principal Daniel Woolf. “As a world leader in the field of particle physics, Dr. McDonald is truly deserving of this recognition for his ground-breaking research.”

Dr. McDonald was previously appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2006 for his research at the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory into neutrino oscillations. His research was rewarded with the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics, which he received alongside Japanese scientist Takaaki Kajita, and the 2016 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics.

In all, 11 members of the Queen's University community were appointed to the Order of Canada in the most recent round of inductions. The Hon. Lloyd Axworthy, LLD’03, Atom Egoyan, LLD’00, and Angela Hewitt, LLD’02 were promoted from Officers to Companions of the Order. Julie Dickson, MA’81 and Brian Levitt were named Officers of the Order of Canada. Finally, Laura Brandon, MA’92, Cathy Roozen, Chair, Cathton Investments Ltd. and spouse of Harold Roozen, MBA’79, Fiona Sampson, BA’85, LLB’93, Kim Sturgess, BSc’77, and Frederic Wien BA’66, were appointed as Members of the Order of Canada.

The Order of Canada was established in 1967 to recognize outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. Over the last 45 years, more than 6 000 people from all sectors of society have been invested into the Order. The Order consists of membership at three levels – Member, which recognizes outstanding contributions at the local or regional level or in a special field of activity; Officer, which recognizes national service or achievement; and Companion, which recognizes national pre-eminence or international service or achievement.

For more information about the Order of Canada, visit the Governor General’s website.