The province’s best and brightest were recognized by the Lieutenant Governor June 16. Nine men and women were named the first members of the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador. The group included several people with close ties to Memorial University.

Dr. Edward Roberts, as Chancellor of the Order, will formally induct them into the Order at a ceremony at Government House in St. John’s this September.

The eight members are: Edgar Baird, Gary Graham, Paul Johnson, Joanne MacDonald, Susan Patten, Linda Peckford, Henry Shouse and Dr. Otto Tucker. An advisory council chose them from among the more than 100 nominations submitted from all regions of the province.

The objective of the Order is to recognize individuals who have demonstrated excellence and achievement in any field of endeavour which benefits in an outstanding manner Newfoundland and Labrador and its residents. Any person or group may nominate an individual for recognition by the Order. The president of Memorial sits on the selection committee.

“The Order of Newfoundland and Labrador is the highest honour in the province,” said Mr. Roberts, “and I take both joy and pride that these men and women will become the first members of the Order. Each of them has made an outstanding contribution to our province, and each of them fully deserves the recognition. They are symbols of the very best of our people and our heritage.”

The House of Assembly, in creating the Order, made special provision for individuals who are not Canadian citizens but who have demonstrated excellence in their fields of endeavour, and whose endeavours “have benefited in an outstanding manner the province and its residents.” Such individuals may be nominated as honorary members. The advisory council has nominated Dr. James Tuck to be one. He, too, will be formally recognized at the September investiture ceremony.

Among his contributions, Gary Graham has served as a volunteer organist at Memorial’s convocation in Corner Brook.

Often cited as one of the greatest philanthropists that Newfoundland and Labrador has ever produced, Paul Johnson has made extraordinary contributions to the historical and cultural heritage of the province. He is renowned for his Grand Concourse Authority, a partnership which brought together the resources of the three levels of government and Memorial University to beautify the capital region and showcase its spectacular heritage and natural assets. He was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree from Memorial University in 1994.

A well-known educator in Newfoundland and Labrador and graduate of Memorial University, University of Alberta and University of Toronto, Dr. Otto Tucker served with the Faculty of Education at Memorial University until his retirement in 1995. He was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree from Memorial University in 1997.

Dr. James Tuck is credited with helping to sustain the communities of today, while delving into the roots of cultures that have inhabited Newfoundland and Labrador over thousands of years. As a driving force of the Archaeology Unit of Memorial University, he has helped shape the careers of many aspiring archaeologists from all over the globe. In fact, for many individuals in the field, the name Dr. James Tuck is synonymous with archaeology. He is also the Henrietta Harvey Chair at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Linda Peckford is a student at Grenfell College as well as a graduate (BA(Ed)’80). Henry James Shouse is also a graduate of Memorial (BS’82).