McMurtry one of 27 named to Order of Ontario

TORONTO - Former chief justice Roy McMurtry was one of 27 people named Wednesday to the Order of Ontario, the province's highest and most prestigious honour.

McMurtry, a former attorney general in the Conservative government of Bill Davis in the 1980s, stepped down as Ontario's top judge in May.

Other recipients of the award this year include Ottawa television anchor Max Keeping, former Globe and Mail publisher William Thorsell, former CBC and TVOntario executive Peter Herrndorf and well-known disabled activist David Lepofsky.

Also honoured were Bernice and Rolland Desnoyers of Leamington, who have fostered 63 children over the past four decades, Six Nations educator Rebecca Jamieson and McMaster University president Peter George.

Also on this year's list:

Members of the public can nominate people for the Order of Ontario, which honours excellence and achievement in any field.

Lt.-Gov. David Onley will hand out the awards at a ceremony at the legislature Jan. 24.