Two McGill profs appointed to the Order of Canada

BY ALLISON FLYNN | On Dec. 28, 2007, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean bestowed Canada’s most highly regarded civilian honour upon McGill Professors Margaret Becklake, Faculty of Medicine. and Armand de Mestral, Faculty of Law, by inducting them as Members to the Order of Canada.

Dr. Becklake, Professor Emeritus, jointly appointed to the Departments of Medicine and Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, was honoured for a lifetime of pioneering work in respiratory medicine and epidemiology, for her research on the occupational and environmental determinants of lung disease, and her dedication to the advancement of women in medical sciences. "No one was more surprised than I to receive a phone call in early December with the news that I was to receive membership in the Order of Canada," said Dr. Becklake of the appointment. "I feel greatly honoured and at the same time humble. I wish there was some way to share the award with the many colleagues and students (actually in three continents) with whom I have worked who were prepared to challenge my ideas and in turn allow me to challenge theirs. Any achievement of mine belongs as much to them as to myself."

This is only the latest honour to recognize Dr. Becklake’s outstanding achievement in her field. Past accolades include a Career Investigator Award from the Canadian Medical Research Council, a Distinguished Achievement and World Lung Health Award of the American Thoracic Society, a Fellowship of the Royal Society (Canada), and honorary degrees from her alma mater, the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and the University of Massachusetts-Lowell.

Professor Armand de Mestral, Holder of the Jean Monnet Chair in the Law of International Economic Integration and Co-Director of the Institute of European Studies (McGill-Université de Montréal) was honoured for his exceptional contribution to legal education and to the development of Canadian constitutional law and international economic law. "I am very grateful to my colleagues and other friends who took the time and trouble to recommend me for this honour," said de Mestral following the receipt of the order’s silver insignia.

Among his many accomplishments, Prof. de Mestral has served on WTO and NAFTA dispute settlement and arbitration tribunals and as president of the Canadian Red Cross Society from 1999-2001. A law professor at McGill since 1976, he served as Acting Director of McGill’s Institute of Air and Space Law (1998-2002) and as Director of McGill’s Institute of Comparative Law (1984-89).

The Order of Canada was established in 1967 to recognize outstanding achievement and service in various fields of human endeavour. It is the centrepiece of Canada’s honours system and recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation.