Western faculty member Tsun-Kong Sham, PhD’75, along with 11 other alumni members of the Western community were named to the Order of Canada by Governor General of Canada David Johnston on June 30.
Sham, a world-class materials chemist, is the authority when it comes to the application of synchrotron radiation to materials science. His area of research is also of strategic importance to the university, anchoring its strength in materials for sustainable energy.
As a Tier I Canada Research Chair, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and recipient of the prestigious John C. Polanyi Prize of the Canadian Society for Chemistry, Sham has been vital as part of the administration of the Canadian Light Source, a national facility in Saskatoon, as well as scientific director of the Canadian Synchrotron Radiation Facility at the Synchrotron Radiation Center (University of Wisconsin-Madison) since 1998.
In addition to Sham, other members of the Western community named an Officer to the Order included Roberta Jamieson, LLB’76, LLD’93; John McGarry, MA’82, PhD’87 (Political Science); Dennis O’Connor, DCL’03; Warren Winkler, LLD’11; and Economics Professor Emeritus Ronald Wonnacott, BA’55, LLD’01.
Members of the Western community named a Member of the Order included Geoffrey Battersby, BA’57, MD’61; Francoise Baylis, MA’84, PhD’89 (Philosophy); Gerald Fagan, BA’61 (Music); Andrew Pringle, BA’72 (History); Michael Walker, MA’67, PhD’71 (Economics), LLD’03; and Sandra Ellen Marie Wilson, MA’77, BA’72.
The Order of Canada, one of the country’s highest civilian honours, was established in 1967 to recognize outstanding achievements as authors, medical researchers, social advocates, business leaders, or politicians for their dedication and service to the community and the nation.
The 113 new appointees to the Order of Canada include one Companion, 27 Officers and 85 Members. These appointments were made on the recommendation of the Advisory Council for the Order of Canada. Over the last 49 years, more than 6,500 people from all sectors of society have been invested into the Order.