Calgary, AB – A long-time champion of public policy and philanthropy in the West, David Elton, Canada West Foundation’s former president, has been honoured as a Member of the Order of Canada.

Elton received the honour Sept. 23 at an investiture ceremony presided over by David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.

He is the second senior Canada West Foundation leader to receive the honour this year. Jim Dinning, former chair of the Foundation, board was named to the Order on July 1.

Elton was President of the Canada West Foundation, a non-partisan think tank, from 1980 to 1997. In that role, he “ensured that national policy debates on such issues as the environment, free trade and constitutional reform included a western Canadian perspective,” stated his citation for the national honour.

“In addition to his policy research as a professor emeritus at the University of Lethbridge, he has been at the helm of several granting foundations in Calgary, overseeing funding for innovative programing in the areas of music, children at risk, education, the environment, and health and wellness.”

Dylan Jones, the Foundation’s President and CEO, said Elton’s deep roots in public policy and vision of a dynamic and prosperous West encouraged vigorous and thoughtful debates on challenges facing western Canada and provided practical solutions.

“David is profoundly deserving of this honour,” said Jones. “His rare combination of towering intellect with practical acumen has made him one of the West’s and Canada’s most important transformational leaders.”

Roger Gibbins, former CEO of the Foundation, noted Elton’s work during the constitutional “wars” of the 1980s and 1990s. “Through his ground-breaking academic work on western Canadian discontent . . . and most recently through his policy leadership as president of the Max Bell Foundation, Dr. Elton has made an indelible contribution to his province, region and country.”

Established in 1967, the Order of Canada is one of the country’s highest civilian honours, and recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation.

In 2013, board member Charles Jago was name to the Order of British Columbia, and from CEO Roger Gibbins was named a recipient of the Alberta Order of Excellence, the province’s highest honour.