Order of N.L. adds 8 more names — and again only one is a woman
Bud Davidge, Liam Hickey, Mi'sel Joe among award recipients
Eight names were added to the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador, and for the second year in a row, only one recipient of the prestigious award was a woman.
The order is known as the province's "highest honour," recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to the province and its citizens.
The order's 17th award ceremony was held Wednesday morning at Government House, with the honour presented by Lt.-Gov. Joan Marie Aylward.
This year's recipients are:
- Bud Davidge.
- Andy Jones.
- Clifford George.
- Patrick O'Callaghan.
- Liam Hickey.
- Guy Poole.
- Mi'sel Joe.
- Andrea Rose.
In 2023, seven names were added to the list, and only one was a woman.
Rose, the only female recipient of the award this year, is a musician, educator and researcher from St. John's. She says she hopes to see more women honoured in the future.
"It all depends on nomination processes and all of that, so, I guess maybe I'll go out there now and be an advocate for getting more nominations for women in the mix," said Rose following the ceremony.
The recipients
Liam Hickey, a 26-year-old paralympian and Canadian sledge hockey player, was the youngest recipient on Wednesday, and adds the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador to an already long list of accolades, including being named the 2015 junior athlete of the year by Wheelchair Basketball Canada and winning two silver paralympic medals.
He says he doesn't know if his hockey teammates know yet about his latest achievement, but that he's looking forward to celebrating with loved ones.
"It's special," he said. "I look up to everybody in this room, so that's kind of a unique feeling for me, I think, being a bit of a younger, you know, recipient here."
Legendary singer-songwriter Bud Davidge of Simani's also received the honour, and he joked that he had to "grin and bear it" while the ceremony master listed his accomplishments as he was presented the award.
"I always ask, 'Why me?'" he said. "Why not somebody else more important and all that sort of stuff? But [I'm] still very grateful to receive this great award and this fine ceremony and everything is so nice."
Artist and activist Clifford George, who advocated to save the Newfoundland pony from extinction, also received the honour, along with Irish-born entrepreneur Patrick O'Callaghan, Saqamaw Mi'sel Joe of Miawpukek First Nation and writer and performer Andy Jones, who wasn't in attendance.
Guy Poole, who has walked long distances in the province to raise money for diabetes research after losing his wife to the disease, was also named to the Order.
"I'm sure she's looking down on me today," he said.
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