Member of the Order of Canada

What a New Year's gift!  Being appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada is an extraordinary honour.  

The citation reads " Anita Stewart: For her contributions as a journalist, author and culinary activist and for her promotion of the food industry in Canada."   Joe Friesen wrote a great piece on a number of this year's appointees in the Globe and Mail. 

The Order of Canada itself was "Established in 1967 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Order of Canada is the centrepiece of Canada’s honours system and recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. The Order recognizes people in all sectors of Canadian society. Their contributions are varied, yet they have all enriched the lives of others and made a difference to this country. The Order of Canada’s motto is DESIDERANTES MELIOREM PATRIAM (They desire a better country)."   

Let's hope that, with this in hand, I will be able to encourage the culinary industry to coalesce with even more gusto to honour one another and create the strongest, most reliable food system on the planet.  We certainly have the ingredients and the talent!

The image is of the pin which can be worn by all the new recipients up until and after the ceremony at Rideau Hall sometime this spring. 

To all my family, my friends and my colleagues from across Canada and around the globe, thank you for all your support over the years. Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!