A class of people that transforms Canada
OTTAWA – The Order of Canada. It is fair, right and just for a society to publicly acknowledge and recognize “the good that its citizens do”. Philosophy and ideology aside, if standards and values are to be prized because they demonstrate merit that takes life beyond simply being, then individuals whose life experience attests to ability or willingness to go that step beyond should be celebrated.
Think about certificates, diplomas, degrees, Seals of proficiency whether in academia, the skilled trades, financial services, valour exhibited in the service to one’s community and country – the list is endless. Every organization, every culture has an “investiture process” to publicize the few whose deeds meet the mandatory tests of time and scrupulous examination. Graduation ceremonies – of all types – are an ongoing expression of the importance societies place on achievement and merit.
Monarchies have their “knighting” ceremonies. Religions acknowledge their residents in Olympus. The Catholic Church has its Saints (as at writing, it celebrates Saint Joseph), men and women whose dedication to altruistic works is inspiring for all.
Since 1967, Canada has the Order of Canada. It is an elite “class of people” worthy of the pomp and circumstance that the Governor General, our Head of State, reserves for recipients of the Order of Canada (C.M.). It may pure coincidence, but this year that ceremony falls on the feast of St. Joseph, Canada’s Patron Saint, as selfless an individual for followers of Christianity as anyone could envisage.
We provide the list (here) afforded us by the Governor General’s office. With due deference to all, I draw special note to three recipients for reasons that may not interest everyone. One, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Honourable Rosalie Abella, born into a family of Holocaust survivors and former resident in a constituency I represented for two and a half decades. Two, Mother Pierre Anne Rosaria Mandato, born in Calabria, a Catholic nun whose leadership in these times when secularism and attacks on the clergy obscure the value they have brought everywhere. Three, because as a father, I can say that Flavio Volpe, one of my four children is among the group.
His mother would have been immensely proud. His own children are no less so. I dare say, the Italian Canadian community may be as well. Going forward, our editorial board had determined to prepare and publish brief biographies of all Canadians of Italian origin who have earned a C.M.
You would be surprised that they live among us. Auguri a tutti.
The awarding of the honor to Flavio Volpe
“Flavio Volpe is a policy expert on national trade and industry competition in Canada’s automotive and technology sectors who advocates investment in Canadian operations. He is president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, and served on the Ontario Premier’s Council on U.S. Trade and Industry Competitiveness. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he mobilized Canada’s industrial capacity, resulting in the largest national build orders of ventilators, face shields, surgical masks and gowns”.
Here below is a photogallery from the event (photo: Corriere Canadese)
