Copps, Dryden to receive Order of Canada honours

Former Member of Parliament for Hamilton East Sheila Copps and Hamilton-born NHL star turned author turned MP Ken Dryden are among 91 recipients of the Order of Canada, it was announced Sunday by the office of Governor General David Johnston.

Joining them is Murray Enkin, a McMaster University doctor whose work in maternal care and midwifery revolutionized the way doctors treat expectant mothers.

Enkin, 88, who has since moved to Victoria, B.C., lived and worked in Hamilton for nearly 60 years where his practices and research into family-centred maternal care grew to become the norm across the country.

"I came up with this idea of letting husbands and siblings into the delivery room. Nobody wanted to go for that at first so we said, 'okay, let's do the research,'" Enkin said.

Well-respected in the medical community, Enkin is humble about his accomplishments, including the Order of Canada.

"It's often the case that when you receive honours it's when you no longer deserve them," he said of the Order, adding of his work in Hamilton: "I was lucky to have been at the right place, with the right values, at the right time."

He said his years in Hamilton were the most important of his life and that he is still proud to be a member of the McMaster community as a professor emeritus.

Along with Dryden was another former member of the 1972 Summit Series hockey team that defeated the Soviet Union — Paul Henderson.

The list also featured Michael Enright, host of CBC Radio's Sunday Edition and Andy Barrie, former host of the CBC's Metro Morning.

Copps was the first woman to hold the position of Deputy Prime Minister and spent 10 years in the federal cabinet. Her father, Victor Copps, was mayor of Hamilton from 1962 to 1976. Her mother, Geraldine Copps, was a Hamilton city councillor.

Dryden was a member of the Montreal Canadiens for eight seasons and won six Stanley Cups during that time. His off-ice accomplishments are considerable as well. Besides his 1983 instant classic The Game, Dryden has written four other acclaimed books including Home Game, co-authored with Roy MacGregor, which was turned into an award-winning six-part series for CBC-TV.

Dryden served as Liberal Party MP for York Centre in Toronto from 2004 until the spring of 2011 and was the minister of Social Development in Paul Martin's government from 2004 to 2006.

Order of Canada members are recognized for "a lifetime of distinguished service" in their area, according to the Governor General's website. Among the new members are:

• Michael Enright, host of CBC's The Sunday Edition, who was inducted to the order for "his contributions to Canadian print and broadcast journalism and for advocating on behalf of people with intellectual disabilities," according to a statement from the office of the secretary to the Governor General.
• Stevie Cameron, an investigative journalist, received the honour for her contributions in her field and "her volunteer work on behalf of the disadvantaged."
• Hockey legend Paul Henderson, who won the 1972 Summit Series for Canada against the U.S.S.R., made the list for "his engagement in support of a range of social and charitable causes" and his hockey achievements.
• Quebec actress Marina Orsini was inducted to the order for "her contributions to Quebec culture" and charity support, especially Tel-jeunes — a free, confidential intervention service provided by counsellors and available 24/7 to all young Quebecers.

In total, 56 new members were named. Other notables included Heather Reisman. Dryden was named an officer of the order of Canada. The designation, one step higher than member, celebrates "a lifetime of achievement and merit of a high degree."

Former Supreme Court justice Louise Charron and banker L. Jacques Ménard were given the highest designation: companions. The rank "recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement and merit of the highest degree, especially in service to Canada or to humanity at large."

You can find the full list of Order of Canada recipients here.