Four members of the Jewish community will be inducted into the Ordre national du Québec, at a ceremony in the national assembly on June 20.
Renowned cancer researcher Dr. Phil Gold was promoted to Grand Officier. Affiliated throughout his career with the Montreal General Hospital (MGH) and McGill University, Gold made a major discovery in the 1960s of a potential biomarker for cancer. Between 1980 and 1995, he was the director of medical services at the MGH. He went on to head a clinical research centre at the McGill University Health Centre for some 20 years.
Plastic surgeon Dr. Daniel Borsuk, who made international headlines for leading the first facial transplant in Canada last September, has been named an Officer.
The 40-year-old physician headed a team of nine surgeons, as well as about 100 other medical professionals, in carrying out the successful 30-hour operation.
Borsuk divides his practice between Hôpital Ste-Justine and Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, and also conducts research and teaches.
Also appointed an Officer is lawyer Morton Minc, a former chief justice of Montreal’s municipal court. He is cited for making justice more accessible to the elderly and other disadvantaged and marginalized people by modernizing social programs within the court.
Minc has “helped thousands of people avoid judicial trouble by promoting social reintegration when he was a judge and president of the municipal court of Montreal (2009-2015). His tireless efforts transformed this court into an example followed by other courts,” according to his citation from the Ordre national du Québec.
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Soprano and philanthropist Sharon Azrieli was installed as a Chevalière for her international renown as an artist. She has had principal roles in productions of the Metropolitan Opera, the Canadian Opera Company, Opéra Bastille de Paris and the Israel Opera, and performed with great orchestras. She is also lauded for being a generous supporter of the arts.
A total of 35 accomplished Quebecers were inducted this year into the Ordre, the most prestigious recognition bestowed by the province.
Nominations from the public are evaluated by the Conseil de l’Ordre national du Québec, which makes its recommendations to the premier. The final selection is made official by government decree.