Harvard presents Clara Hughes with the Order of Manitoba yesterday. Nine others also received the honour.
Photo Credit: C. PROCAYLO Sun
Achievers honoured - Awarded Order of Manitoba
Arnold Frieman survived hell and found paradise in Winnipeg.
For 55 years, the founder and CEO of Advance Electronics has lived, prospered and shared a message of peace in our province.
Yesterday, he was invested into the Order of Manitoba.
“I’m stunned by the honour. In my wildest dream I never would have expected to be awarded with something like this,” said Frieman, who survived a Nazi concentration camp. He has generously demonstrated his commitment to Winnipeg by supporting the arts, the university and the Jewish community.
Nine other outstanding Manitobans, including rock star Neil Young, ballerina Evelyn Hart and Olympians Jennifer Botterill, Clara Hughes and Cindy Klassen, also received the prestigious honour yesterday.
“We have recipients today who are from all walks of life, from all corners of Manitoba and all give us a great deal of pride,” said Premier Gary Doer, who attended the ceremony.
Funeral director Neil Bardal was honoured for being a leader in the Canadian Icelandic community and James Burns, former president and chairman of Great- West Life for his philanthropy — including generous donations to the new skateboard park at the Forks and to the Winnipeg Foundation.
“It’s so special and such an honour. I never expected anything like this,” said Klassen, who now lives in Calgary, where she trains, but who will always call Winnipeg home. “It’s a great day.”
Albert Cerilli helped reform labour laws and improve the lives of working people in Manitoba. Among many other achievements, Cerilli’s efforts led to a five-day, 40-hour work week.
Eileen Collins was invested for her lifelong commitment to her community and Dakota elder Rev. Donald Pratt was invested for keeping aboriginal culture and language alive through his ministry.
Len Smith was invested into the order for turning the frigid community of Churchill into a tourist hot spot. Smith’s creation of the tundra buggy allows people to safely view the polar bears in their natural environment and attracts more than 10,000 visitors annually.
“The members of the Order of Manitoba are living embodiments of what this province and its people aspire to be,” said Lt.-Gov. John Harvard, who invested the recipients with the order.
Young and Hart did not attend yesterday’s ceremony.
The order was created to recognize citizens who demonstrate excellence and contribute to the social, cultural or economic well-being of people in the province.
