Rahul Singh, David Crombie, John Tory to receive Order of Ontario
Posted January 20, 2012 8:39 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A local paramedic who founded a world-renowned emergency-relief organization, a former Toronto three-term mayor, a politician-turned radio host and a celebrated children’s author are among the 27 people set to receive the province’s highest honour this year.
Ontario Lt.-Gov. David Onley will invest the appointees at a Jan. 26 ceremony at Queen’s Park.
Rahul Singh will be honoured for his efforts to help people in disaster zones. The Toronto paramedic founded GlobalMedic in 1998 and since then he’s led more than 60 relief efforts in more than 30 countries. The group recently responded to the housing crisis at the Attawapiskat reserve in northern Ontario.
Singh was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2010.
Former mayor David Crombie will be honoured for his “socially-responsible urban policies” that preserved historic districts in downtown Toronto. He’s the founding chair of the Waterfront Regeneration Trust and chair of the Toronto Lands Corporation.
And a former Toronto mayor hopeful and former MPP, John Tory, is also being recognized for his work as a business leader, politician, community activist and volunteer. He’s known as a champion for the Greater Toronto Area as the chair of CivicAction. He also hosts a radio talk show.
And acclaimed children’s author and illustrator Barbara Reid, whose works include the Subway Mouse, will be honoured by the province. She creates the pictures for her books using plasticine and then photographs her creations.
Well-known legal expert and head of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, Nathalie Des Rosiers, French-language educator and TV personality Suzanne “Marie-Soleil” Pinel and Special Olympics International creator Frank Hayden will also be honoured.
Click here for a full list of the 2012 Order of Ontario appointees.
