Former Supreme Court of Canada Justice Made Companion of the Order of Canada

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, today named 61 people to the Order of Canada. It is Canada's highest honour for lifetime achievement.

The Honourable Louise Arbour, who was a judge of the Supreme Court of Canada from 1999 to 2004, was made a Companion of the Order of Canada, the highest level of distinction. Prior to her nomination to the Court, Madame Arbour served as chief prosecutor before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague. In that capacity, she indicted the Serb President Slobodan Milosevic for war crimes, the first time a serving head of State was called to account before an international criminal court.

Since leaving the Court, Madame Arbour has worked as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Other Canadians from the legal field whose appointment to the Order of Canada was announced today include:

• Alex Neve, Secretary General for Amnesty International Canada, English Speaking Branch
• The Honourable Patrick J. LeSage, former Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Ontario
• The Honourable René J. Marin, federal judge considered a pioneer in the use of French in law in Ontario
• Armand de Mestral, Jean Monnet Chair in the Law of International Economic Integration and Co-Director of the Institute of European Studies (McGill-Université de Montréal)

The Order of Canada was established in 1967 to recognize outstanding achievement and service in various fields of human endeavour. Appointments are made on the recommendation of an advisory council, chaired by the Chief Justice of Canada, The Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin.