Four Calgarians named to Order of Canada
Visual artist Chris Cran, jazz dance leader Vicki Adams Willis, surgeon Janice Pasieka, and biochemist Jerry Wang receive the country's highest honour.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Four Calgarians have been appointed to the Order of Canada, announced Friday by Governor General Louise Arbour — the first honours the new governor general has conferred since taking office.
Chris Cran is recognized as a transformative force in Calgary's visual arts community, shaping generations of artists through innovative explorations of painting that blend traditional genres with pop-cultural sources.
Vicki Adams Willis is honoured as a leader in jazz dance who has pushed the art form forward while rediscovering and promoting its authentic roots. She is co-founder and long-time artistic director of Calgary's Decidedly Jazz Danceworks.
Janice Pasieka, a surgeon, has helped redefine treatment for adrenal, thyroid, parathyroid, and neuroendocrine disorders. She transformed coordinated care in western Canada by establishing multidisciplinary clinics at Calgary's Tom Baker Cancer Centre and created Canada's first American Association of Endocrine Surgeons-accredited endocrine surgery fellowship.
Jerry Wang, a biochemist, is internationally renowned for landmark discoveries shaping modern cell-signalling science, enzymology, and neuroscience. Throughout his prolific career at the universities of Manitoba and Calgary, he has influenced research direction and solidified Canada's reputation as a leader in biomedical innovation.
More than 8,800 people have been appointed to the Order since its creation in 1967.