July 14, 2017

Two university community leaders appointed to Order of Canada

University of Calgary professor and honorary degree recipient receive one of Canada’s highest civilian honours
The appointment of University of Calgary professor Nady el-Guebaly’s to the Order of Canada recognizes his contributions to mental health and addiction treatment.

Nady el-Guebaly’s appointment to the Order of Canada recognizes his contributions to mental health.

His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, announced 99 new appointments to the Order of Canada on June 30, 2017.

Established in 1967 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Order of Canada is one of this country’s highest civilian honours, recognizing outstanding achievement, dedication to community and service to the nation.

Amongst the list are a Cumming School of Medicine professor who focuses on mental health and addiction, and an honorary degree recipient who is an acclaimed visual artist.

Dr. Nady el-Guebaly, C.M., is a professor at the university’s Cumming School of Medicine and his Order of Canada appointment recognizes his contributions to mental health and addiction. El-Guebaly is the scientific director of the Alberta Gambling Research Institute, and he was instrumental in setting up the Addiction Centre at the Foothills Medical Centre in 1994. He has also advanced the field through major research interests including the study of risks and resilience among the children of alcoholic parents, treatment opportunities for the mentally ill and substance abusers, gambling disorders and behavioural addictions, medical education, and international delivery of care.

Jane Ash Poitras is an internationally acclaimed visual artist and sought-after lecturer. Her Order of Canada appointment recognizes her contributions to Canada’s artistic landscape as an influential First Nations visual artist. A celebrated Canadian painter, printmaker and writer, she helped develop a new visual vocabulary for First Nations perspectives in contemporary art. Poitras’ work has been showcased in numerous solo and group exhibitions around the world, and can be found in many prestigious public, private and corporate collections. She was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Calgary in 2015.

Recipients will be invited to accept their insignia at a ceremony to be held at a later date. The complete list of Order of Canada recipients announced on June 30, 2017 can be found on the Governor General of Canada website.