Member Medal of the Order of Canada
Metis artist and activist Christi Belcourt, poet and painter bill bissett, and artist and AIDS activist Joe Average have been appointed as members of the Order of Canada.
“The Order of Canada recognizes individuals who have made positive and lasting impacts on communities here in Canada, or who have brought honour to our country abroad,” said Governor General Mary Simon in a news release.
Belcourt, whose work is in collections across North America, is known for her floral landscapes inspired by Métis beadwork. Earlier this week, Canada Post issued a stamp featuring Belcourt’s likeness as part of its Indigenous Leaders series. And on June 26, Belcourt’s painting, Honouring My Spirit Helpers, became the first Métis artwork to be displayed inside Ottawa's Rideau Hall, the official residence of the governor general of Canada.
Average is a Vancouver-based artist, human rights activist and philanthropist who uses his art to advocate for people living with HIV.
A leader in the 1960s counterculture movement in Canada, bissett was a co-founder of the Secret Handshake Gallery in Toronto.
Christi Belcourt (photo courtesy of Christi Belcourt)
bill bissett (photo courtesy of bill bissett)
Joe Average (photo by Wayne Hoecherl)
The Order of Canada was established as a way to recognize Canadians who have made a major difference to the country through lifelong contributions in any field. More than 7,600 people have been invested into the Order since it began in 1967.
Source: Governor General of Canada