Posted January 1, 200916 yr Celine Dion’s Canadian distinctions go on and on Posted: December 30, 2008, 9:11 AM by Jeremy Barker OTTAWA — Pop singer Celine Dion and world-renowned tenor Ben Heppner are among several prominent Canadians named Tuesday as companions of the Order of Canada. Dion, the Las Vegas star who emerged as a teenage singer in rural Quebec was first bestowed with the honour of officer of the Order of Canada in 1998 for her contribution to the world of contemporary music. Heppner, who studied music at the University of British Columbia, was the 1988 winner of the Metropolitan Opera auditions and is both a Grammy Award winner and a Juno Award recipient. In 2002, he was named an officer of the Order of Canada. A companion is a promotion within the Order of Canada. The two others named to the distinction Tuesday were Canadian billionaire investor and philanthropist Stephen Jarislowsky and Peter Munk, founder of the world’s largest mining company, Barrick Gold. Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean announced Tuesday 60 new appointments to the Order of Canada. The new appointees include four companions, 14 officers and 42 members. These appointments were made on the recommendation of the advisory council on the Order of Canada. Recipients will be invited to accept their insignia at a ceremony to be held at a later date. A full list of the recipients can be found at http://www.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=5601 Céline Dion, C.C., O.Q. Laval, Quebec Companion of the Order of Canada For having won over audiences worldwide with her extraordinary talent as a pop singer, and for her commitment to numerous humanitarian causes at the national and international levels. This is a promotion within the Order. :wub: Edited January 1, 200916 yr by SuuS
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