Emmy Award winner, philanthropists, scientists, advocates among Order of Manitoba recipients

CBC News

· Posted: May 12, 2025 10:36 AM EDT | Last Updated: 4 minutes ago

Twelve Manitobans volition person the province's highest honour for a scope of accomplishments, from advocacy enactment and acting to philanthropy, fundraising and the revitalization of Indigenous languages.

The ceremonial investiture ceremonial is scheduled for July 17 at the Manitoba Legislative Building.

Established successful 1999, the grant recognizes individuals whose achievements enrich the social, taste oregon economical well-being of Manitoba and its residents "and reenforce that we each person the powerfulness to marque a difference," the bureau of Manitoba's lieutenant-governor said successful a news release.

The pursuing is simply a database of those being honoured, on with accusation from their citations:

Maria E. Chaput

The archetypal Franco-Manitoban pistillate successful the Canadian Senate, Maria Chaput has dedicated her assemblage enactment and nonrecreational vocation to the maturation of the Manitoba francophone community. She led galore fundraising campaigns successful enactment of organizations specified arsenic Cercle Molière theatre and the Maison Gabrielle-Roy museum, and played a cardinal relation successful the modernization of the Official Languages Act.

Rebecca Gibson

Partner and co-owner of Eagle Vision, Rebecca Gibson is an award-winning actor, writer, director, producer, playwright, best-selling author, devoted mentor and advocator for equity, diverseness and accessibility. She is simply a caller victor of a 2023 International Emmy Award (only the 2nd Manitoba win) and the Banff World Media Festival's 2022 Innovative Producer of the Year Award.

Gordon Giesbrecht

A dedicated teacher and renowned scientist, Gordon Giesbrecht is simply a satellite person successful the survey and attraction of hypothermia and drowning prevention. Under his leadership, the University of Manitoba has go a globally renowned centre of expertise successful acold accent physiology and pre-hospital attraction for quality hyperthomia. His findings person saved countless lives, with his recommendations forming protocols that are present utilized by exigency responders crossed Canada.

Digvir S. Jayas

An technologist and agrologist, Digvir Jayas is distinguished prof successful the section of biosystems engineering astatine the University of Manitoba. A world-renowned atom scientist, Jayas has received aggregate awards for his 30-year probe and teaching vocation that has enhanced atom preservation successful Canada and astir the world.

Glen Kruck

Throughout his 35-year vocation with Community Health and Housing successful Brandon, Glen Kruck has been dedicated to helping radical successful need. His enactment has centred connected creating long-term, sustainable solutions to homelessness successful Brandon, peculiarly for those struggling with intelligence wellness and addiction issues. His lodging programs person benefited thousands of Brandon residents and helium was instrumental successful the improvement of Brandon's archetypal stateless shelters.

Trudy L. Lavallee

The erstwhile kid and household advocator for the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, Trudy Lavallee's advocacy for First Nations children led to her processing the conception for Jordan's Principle, which intended to marque sure First Nations children bash not look gaps, delays or denials successful accessing authorities services due to the fact that of their identity. In November 2005, she wrote an nonfiction published successful the Paediatrics and Child Health Journal titled, "Honouring Jordan: Putting First Nations Children First and Funding Fights Second," which led to the national instauration of the Jordan's Principle bill.

J. Kenneth Paupanekis

An elder of the Kinosao Sipi Cree Nation (Norway House), Ken Paupanekis has dedicated himself to the well-being of Indigenous communities successful Manitoba, moving toward Indigenous connection revitalization. His fluency successful Cree, Anishinaabe, English and French helped with the improvement of cardinal connection programs. His publication to Manitoba universities has ensured aboriginal generations tin entree culturally applicable learning materials.

Kristie Pearson

A dedicated fundraiser and volunteer, Kristie Pearson supports assemblage organizations that supply services to Manitobans. Her fundraising efforts person helped rise implicit $30 cardinal for charities and projects including the Clan Mothers Healing Village, Rainbow Resource Centre, United Way Winnipeg and the YMCA/YWCA. During the pandemic, she developed Linking Hope successful effect to the galore tiny agencies struggling to rise funds and enlistee volunteers.

Walter John Schroeder

A palmy concern enforcement and philanthropist, Walter Schroeder has pledged implicit $500 cardinal to enactment acquisition causes done the Schroeder Foundation. This includes a caller $15-million donation to make the Schroeder Institute of Entertainment and Media Arts astatine RRC Polytech and $1.25 cardinal to enactment the Ozhitoon Onji Peenjiiee — Build from Within programme to enactment Indigenous teachers. He besides provides implicit 700 post-secondary scholarships annually.

Charlie Spiring

A palmy concern advisor, Charlie Spiring's philanthropy strengthens the societal cloth of Manitoba. His instauration has provided millions of dollars to section programs, including Siloam Mission, Adoption Options Manitoba, Health Sciences Centre Foundation and the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation. He led the InSpiring Match for United Way Winnipeg, matching $1 cardinal for the Forever Family initiative, providing contiguous enactment to household centres crossed Winnipeg.

Felix C. Walker

A subordinate of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN), Felix Walker provides innovative programming for the well-being of his community. A set councillor astatine property 25, helium led programs based connected accepted Cree values, including reducing trauma to children successful care. He besides established radical location attraction for younker and continues to enactment with elders done the Rediscovery of Families program, wherever families reunite and heal successful accepted onshore settings.

Marion F. Willis

Marion Willis has contributed to safer and healthier communities successful Manitoba by creating and operating St. Boniface Street Links, a programme that delivers a holistic attack to assistance stateless radical successful Winnipeg. She is besides the laminitis of Morberg House, an addictions betterment residence successful Winnipeg. She works to interruption the rhythm of homelessness and to acceptable caller standards of attraction for susceptible radical by helping to reconstruct anticipation and dignity successful their lives.

Lt.-Gov. Anita Neville, chancellor of the order, volition preside implicit the ceremonial successful July.

Appointments to the Order of Manitoba are made by the chancellor based connected the recommendations of an advisory council.

A database of each members of the order is connected imperishable show successful the legislative building, and members are entitled to usage the initials O.M. aft their names for life.