CALGARY, AB – The Canada West Foundation today congratulates Jim Dinning, former chair of the board of directors, on his investiture as a Member of the Order of Canada.
Dinning receives the honour this morning at a 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 recently receive the honour. David Elton, former president of the Foundation, was invested on Sept. 23, 2015. He was president of the Canada West Foundation, a non-partisan think tank, from 1980 to 1997.
Dinning is a well-known Albertan. For 11 years, he served in the legislative assembly, notably as provincial treasurer, where he was widely credited with bringing the province’s finances in line and eliminating its deficit, said the statement from the Office of the Governor General.
Dylan Jones, the Foundation’s President and CEO, said few Canadians have made as many sacrifices and devoted so many of their waking hours in public service.
“Many know about Jim Dinning’s service to the public in elected office. What is less well-known is the countless hours of his personal time he has devoted to public policy, motivating the young and building better communities,” said Jones. “He is a profoundly deserving recipient of the Order of Canada.”
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 former CEO Roger Gibbins was named a recipient of the Alberta Order of Excellence, the province’s highest honour.