A Yellowknife woman was appointed to the Order of Canada last Thursday the day after she was inducted into the Order of the NWT.
Dr. Marie Wilson was among four Northern residents named to the Order of the NWT during a public ceremony in the legislative assembly last Wednesday.
Established in 2013, the honour recognizes individuals who have served with the greatest distinction and excelled in a field that benefits people of the territory or elsewhere.
More information: 113 people appointed to the Order of Canada
The following day, Wilson was named to the Order of Canada, which acknowledges outstanding achievement and dedication to the community as well as service to the nation.
Since being established in 1967, more than 6,500 people from all sectors of society have been named to the Order. Wilson was among 113 new appointments announced by Governor General David Johnston Thursday.
He says Wilson was honoured “for her contributions to the development of the Northwest Territories, and for her work as a commissioner with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.”
She was also recognized for her work with the CBC, where she made daily television a reality in the North.
There, she worked for the public broadcaster’s weekly TV news show Focus North where she was the only host, reporter, researcher and writer for all three territories and northern Quebec.
She also played an instrumental role in launching CBC Northbeat in English and CBC Igalaaq in Inuktitut.
Years later, in 2009, Wilson was selected as one of three commissioners of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
After hearing statements from more than 7,000 residential school survivors, Wilson co-authored a series of recommendations aimed at building new relationships between Canada’s indigenous population and Ottawa.
Congrats to recipients of Order of NWT – Nellie Cournoyea, Jan Stirling, Tony Whitford & Marie Wilson #nwtpoli #yzf pic.twitter.com/rDO8Xp5xhB
— Assembly NWT (@AssemblyNWT) June 29, 2016
