From finance to fighting racism, Order of Canada appointees include prominent Quebecers

Gov. Gen. Mary Simon has announced 83 new appointments to the Order of Canada, and the list includes several high-achieving Quebecers.

The order is meant to celebrate people who have made extraordinary contributions to Canadian society.

Here is a rundown of appointees with Quebec ties who are part of Thursday's list of appointments, including one Quebecer who was promoted to "companion" — the highest level of the Order of Canada.

Twelve years after being appointed as a member, Monique Leroux is now a companion of the Order of Canada.

According to the news release for Thursday's announcement, Leroux is "a leading figure in Canadian finance" who played a major role in the national and international growth of Desjardins Group.

She spent 12 years there as an executive. She's also represented the country in several multinational groups and committees.

Daniel Lavoie, a decorated singer and songwriter born in Dunrea, Man., is now an officer of the Order Canada.

He's known for being one of the original cast members of the Notre-Dame de Paris musical. In 1983, he released his chart-topping hit song called Ils s'aiment (French for "They love each other.")

As part of Thursday's announcement, Lavoie was described as a "prominent ambassador for French-Canadian culture."

In 2022, he was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. 

Conductor Kent Nagano spent 16 years at the helm of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, before leaving in 2020.

At the time, the OSM said it hoped to maintain a relationship with the celebrated conductor. The following year, Nagano was named Conductor Emeritus of the OSM.

He is one of two people this year being appointed as honorary officers. Each year, the Governor General can give honorary appointments to up to five people who are not Canadian citizens. 

Myrna Lashley, an associate professor of psychiatry at McGill University, is being appointed as a member of the order.