Ahead of Canada Day, Governor General Julie Payette announced 83 new appointments to the Order of Canada. Among the new appointees are several food-and-beverage industry professionals.
One of the country’s highest civilian honours, the Order of Canada honours people whose service, innovations and compassion have shaped Canadian society. Appointments are made by the Governor General on the recommendation of the Advisory Council for the Order of Canada.
New inductees include:
- Jean-Paul Grappe — Grappe is honoured for his contributions to gastronomy as a culinary creator, teacher and author, as well as for his dedication to the future of the agri-food sector.
- Luigi Aquilini — Aquilini is the patriarch of Aquilini Investment Group — one of B.C.’s largest and most successful business empires. The group comprises development-and-construction, property-management, hospitality, food-and-beverage, sport-and-entertainment, technology, renewable-energy and viticultural and agricultural holdings. Foodservice interests include Toptable Group and 48 Pizza Hut franchises.
- Nick Saul — Saul has worked with low-income and homeless people for more than 30 years and is the long-time president and CEO of Community Food Centres Canada.
- John Sleeman — Sleeman is the founder of Sleeman Breweries, which is recognized as one of the country’s most successful. After selling the company to Japan’s Sapporo, he has launched Spring Mill Distillery in Guelph, Ont.
- Michael Smith — Chef Smith best known from his cooking shows and is a champion of the local-food movement. He has been involved in grassroots movements and testified at a Senate committee about the importance of local food. The chef and his wife currently operate The Inn at Bay Fortune in P.E.I. — which is home to his restaurant FireWorks— as well as their newly opened property, The Inn at Fortune Bridge.
- Howard Soon — The Kelowna, B.C.-based master winemaker was recognized for his role in expanding and elevating B.C.’s wine industry. Soon is credited with several industry firsts in the province, including being the first to release a series of single-vineyard designated wines.
- Jim Treliving — Trelving is the co-owner of Boston Pizza and a longtime member of the Dragons’ Den TV show. He also owns the Mr. Lube franchise chain, Dermal Laser Centres, the Brandlive event-management company, Velofix mobile bike repair, as well as real estate, land development and food-manufacturing companies.
