CTV Montreal anchor Mutsumi Takahashi named to Order of Canada

Mutsumi Takahashi named to Order of Canada CTV Montreal lead anchor Mutsumi Takahashi has been named to the Order of Canada.

CTV Montreal’s Chief News Anchor Mutsumi Takahashi will receive the country’s highest civilian honour, the Order of Canada. The announcement was made Friday by the Governor General’s office, in recognition of her contribution to Canadian broadcasting and to her community.

Takahashi has been a mainstay of Canadian broadcasting for more than three decades, making her debut on the station then known as CFCF 12 in 1982 as a news reporter.

Four years later, she assumed her now-familiar post as an anchor.

Takahashi was born in Shiroishi, Japan but moved to Canada with her family as a child. She attended Vanier College and Concordia University, earning a B.A. and M.B.A. In 2013, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by Concordia. In 2017, she was recognized by the RTDNA with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

“As I scroll down the list of people who have been named to the Order of Canada, I am truly proud to be counted among them,” said Takahashi. “Mine is the immigrant story, brought to this country by my parents to start a new life. Canada has been very good to me, and I can think of no greater honour than to be named to the Order on this date, the eve of the celebration of the country’s birthday.”

CTV News President Wendy Freeman congratulated Takahashi, saying the honour was “well-deserved.”

“A trusted voice for Montrealers for more than 35 years, she has dedicated her career to connecting with viewers in the community,” she said.

CTV Montreal News Director Jed Kahane also praised Takahashi.

“A true expert in her field, Mutsumi’s skill and dedication to broadcasting has strengthened the position of CTV Montreal as the top-rated English-language newscast in Québec,” he said. “We at CTV Montreal are extremely proud of Mutsumi’s achievements, and we thank her for her outstanding work in broadcast journalism as well as her longstanding commitment to the Montréal community.”

Takahashi's friends, colleagues and fans took to Twitter to offer her congratulations.

Among the other honourees announced Friday by Governor General Julie Payette are longtime Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels, who is being promoted to the Companions of the Order of Canada, the highest level of the order. Also being made a Companion is astronaut Roberta Bondar. Among the Quebecers receiving honours are McGill University Principal and Vice-Chancellor Suzanne Fortier, psychologist Louise Nadeau, philanthropist Nan-B De Gaspe Beaubien and historian Paul-Andre Linteau.

Here is the full list of new members to the Order of Canada:

Companions of the Order

Roberta Bondar, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., astronaut, educator.

Beverley McLachlin, Ottawa, longest-serving chief justice of Canada.

Lorne Michaels, Toronto and New York, TV and film producer, creator of Saturday Night Live. This is a promotion within the order.

Officers of the Order

Christiane Ayotte, Montreal, biochemist, researcher, who has battled doping in sports.

Perrin Beatty, Toronto, former politician, community and corporate leader.

Chantal Benoit, Vaughan, Ont., advocate for inclusive sports, longtime promoter of wheelchair basketball.

Lise Bissonnette, Montreal, journalist and author.

Cindy Blackstock, Ottawa, longtime champion of Indigenous children's rights.

Alain Bouchard, Laval, Que., entrepreneur, businessman and philanthropist.

Gertrude Bourdon, Quebec City, hospital administrator.

Gordon Muir Campbell, Vancouver, public service, former high commissioner to Britain.

Matthew Coon Come, Mistissini, Que., advocate for Indigenous causes.

Wendy Marion Craig, Kingston, Ont., anti-bullying research.

Suzanne Fortier, Montreal, scientists, innovator, academic.

Sheila Fraser, Ottawa, former federal auditor general.

Julia Gersovitz, Montreal, architect known for heritage preservation.

Jane Green, St. John's, N.L., researcher in genetics.

Deanna Hamilton, Kelowna, B.C., promoter of First Nations fiscal management and governance.

Patricia Meirion Moore, Calgary, community volunteer, fundraiser.

Louise Nadeau, Montreal, clinical psychologist and professor who worked on treating addiction.

Annette M. O'Connor, Ottawa, researcher and champion of patient involvement in health care-related decisions.

Peter Henry St George-Hyslop, Toronto, and Cambridge, U.K., researcher in neurodegenerative disorders, notably Alzheimer's disease.

Neil G. Turok, Waterloo, theoretical physicist whose models offer ways to test fundamental theories of the universe. This is an honorary appointment.

Members of the Order

Andrea Baumann, Hamilton, nursing educator.

Mohit Bhandari, Burlington, Ont., contributor to the field of orthopedic trauma and researcher into intimate partner violence.

Eli Bornstein, Saskatoon, contemporary sculptor-painter.

Robert Bothwell, Toronto, historian.

Hedi Bouraoui, Toronto, poet, novelist and essayist.

Beverley Busson, North Okanagan Region, B.C., a champion of public safety who has worked in multiple national and regional safety and justice initiatives.

Barry Callaghan, Toronto, publisher and writer.

David R. Cameron, Vancouver, scholar, academic, expert in federal negotiations and constitutional affairs.

John Conly, Calgary, researcher into infection control who created national guidelines on the standard of care for infectious diseases.

Francis R. Cook, North Augusta, Ont., expert in herpetology, the study of reptiles and amphibians.

Thomas d'Aquino, Ottawa, philanthropist, leader in the cultural sector.

Gary Michael Dault, Napanee, Ont., writer on arts.

W. Dale Dauphinee, Montreal, medical educator.

Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier, Okanese First Nation, Sask., longtime chief of her First Nation who worked to improve living conditions.

Nan-b de Gaspe Beaubien, Montreal, a contributor to telecommunications and an advocate for family businesses across Canada and abroad.

M. Jamal Deen, Hamilton, academic and specialist in electrical engineering and applied physics.

Allan Steven Detsky, Toronto, expert in health care costs.

Agnes Di Leonardi, Toronto, a leader in the automotive industry and a mentor for women through the International Women's Forum of Canada.

Peter J. Dillon, Peterborough, Ont., researcher into lake ecosystems.

Jim Estill, Guelph, Ont., contributor to technology communities and philanthropist for refugees.

Arthur Fogel, Ottawa and Beverly Hills, Calif., music, concert promoter.

David Glenn Fountain, Halifax, contributor to the arts, education and charitable causes.

David Fox, Toronto, actor and champion of Canadian theatre.

Abraham Fuks, Montreal, medical researcher noted for work on type 1 diabetes and cancer immune-based therapies.

Patsy Gallant, Campbellton, N.B. singer and actress.

Laurier Gareau, Regina, a leader in developing the Franco-Saskatchewanian identity.

Edward H. Garrard, Toronto, a leader in the charitable sector who has developed giving strategies in the fields of health care and education.

Jack Gauldie, Hamilton, an immunologist specializing in gene therapy, aiding in the treatment of fatal diseases and contributing to the development of cancer vaccines.

Nahum Gelber, Montreal, philanthropist in education and artistic culture.

Jack Douglas Gerrow, Ottawa, who worked in accreditation and competencies in dentistry.

Ronald D. Ghitter, Calgary, former politician and senator known for his commitment to human rights and social justice.

Stephane Grenier, Val-des-Monts, Que., a retired lieutenant-colonel and a leader in mental health advocacy and programming for the military and general public.

Mitchell Halperin, Toronto, a clinician, researcher and educator in nephrology, the study of kidneys and kidney disease.

Peter Irwin, Guelph, Ont., a pioneer in the field of wind engineering.

Beverley K. Jacobs, Brantford, Ont., a promoter of Indigenous women's and girls' rights, lead researcher of the Stolen Sisters report.

David Trent Jaeger, Toronto, broadcaster and leader in music creation, performance and promotion.

Rebecca Jamieson, Ohsweken, Ont., educator noted for her work in Indigenous education.

Virendra K. Jha, Baie-d'Urfe, Que., engineer and administrator in the space industry.

K. Wayne Johnston, Toronto, a surgeon, researcher and educator in vascular surgery.

David I. Kent, Toronto, a publisher who supported Canadian literary and culinary writing.

Dianne and Irving Kipnes, Edmonton, contributors to community building and philanthropists in the arts and health care.

Jack Kitts, Ottawa, a leader in the development and implementation of patient-centred care.

Jonathan Klassen, Toronto and Los Angeles, illustrator and author of children's books.

Burton Kramer, Toronto, noted graphic designer.

Alan Latourelle, Ottawa, a longtime promoter of the country's natural and historic wonders.

Gilles Lavigne, Montreal, dentist and researcher noted for work on the interactions between pain and sleep disorders.

Jean-Pierre Leger, Montreal, a business leader in the restaurant industry and a supporter of charitable causes.

Rheal Leroux, Ottawa, organizer of major events in the National Capital Region.

Paul-Andre Linteau, Montreal, historian.

Jon E. Love, Toronto, business leader and philanthropist.

Timothy E. MacDonald, Stratford, Ont., leader in southwestern Ontario business and community initiatives.

Gabor Mate, Vancouver, physician, author and advocate in the fields of addictions and mental health.

Seana McKenna, Stratford, Ont., actress noted for her work at the Stratford Festival.

Bruce McManus, Vancouver, researcher in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease and organ failure.

Edmund Metatawabin, Fort Albany, Ont., advocate, author and teacher known for his advocacy on behalf of residential school survivors.

Morton S. Minc, Montreal, worker on social rehabilitation and the creation of innovative programs at the Municipal Court of Montreal.

David Morley, Toronto, a leader in international development.

Frances Olson, Edmonton, a community activist and contributor to the University Hospital Foundation.

Hilary Pearson, Montreal, president of the Philanthropic Foundations Canada.

Sherry Porter, Halifax, a leader in establishing Pier 21 as a national museum.

Lucienne Robillard, Chambly, Que., former politician who worked on improving public institutions.

Calin Rovinescu, Montreal, a leader in charitable causes and humanitarian relief following several natural disasters.

Jean-Claude Savoie, Saint-Quentin, N.B, an entrepreneur and innovator in the forestry sector and wood processing industry.

Sharon Sholzberg-Gray, Ottawa, a leading advocate for access to publicly funded and accessible health care services by all Canadians.

Yvonne Steinert, Montreal, a leading contributor to faculty development and new training approaches in medical education.

Veronica Jane Strong-Boag, Vancouver, activist, historian and researcher who has made the history of women an integral part of the study of history in Canada.

Mutsumi Takahashi, Montreal, broadcaster and supporter of various charitable causes.

Bryce Taylor, Toronto, surgeon and advocate for improved surgical safety standards and patient care.

Mark Thompson, Vancouver, academic arbitrator and author who has worked in industrial relations and public policy.

Scott Thornley, Toronto, graphic and verbal designer.

Michael J. Tims, Calgary, expert in corporate finance and investment, which has bettered Canadian business across the country.

Mohamed Lamine Toure, Montreal, a leader in promoting African and Caribbean cultures in Canada.

Dave Toycen, Mississauga, Ont., a promoter of humanitarian relief and international development.

Aritha van Herk, Calgary, a novelist and essayist who has raised public awareness of the Western Canadian experience.

James Patterson Waddell, Toronto, a leader in the field of orthopedic surgery.

Elizabeth Hillman Waterston, London, Ont., a pioneer in developing the academic field of Canadian literature and a mentor to writers across the country.

Barry Wellar, Ottawa, a major contributor to the development and advancement of the field of geographic information systems in Canada.

Marjorie White, New Westminster, B.C. an advocate for improving the lives of Indigenous people in urban centres, notably through the establishment of friendship centres across the country.

Ronald Franklin Williams, Pointe-Claire, Que., noted contributor to architecture as a designer and teacher.

Gerald Wood, Calgary, an entrepreneur and philanthropist.

Yiyan Wu Ottawa, a leading authority and scientist in digital TV and multimedia communications research.