Turpel-Lafond Removed from Order of Canada

Summary#

The appointment of Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond to the Order of Canada was ended after she asked for it and the Governor General approved. The change was made by an ordinance signed on September 26, 2023 and published in the Canada Gazette on November 4, 2023.

What it does#

• Removes Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond from the official list of members of the Order of Canada.
• Notes that the removal followed her individual request and the Governor General’s approval.
• Records that the ordinance was signed on September 26, 2023 and the notice was published on November 4, 2023.
• The notice is signed by Maia Welbourne, Acting Secretary General of the Order of Canada.

Who's affected#

• Directly: Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond — her status as an Order of Canada member has been terminated.
• Indirectly: people and organizations that cite or rely on her Order of Canada membership (biographies, media profiles, institutions that list honourees).
• The broader public and the honours system: the item updates the official record of who is an Order of Canada member. It is otherwise a routine administrative change.

Why it matters#

• It changes the official honours list and public records about who holds the Order of Canada.
• Anyone who references or displays her Order of Canada membership should update that information.
• The notice gives no further detail about why she requested the termination, so the reason remains unclear from this item alone.