North Bay woman invested into Order of Canada
Nipissing Serenity Hospice hosted a ceremony on Friday to honour a local woman who helped create the facility.
Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont invests North Bay's Mathilde Bazinet into the Order of Canada on May 3, 2024. (X/Edith Dumont/Photo taken by Olivia Parker)
Mathilde Gravelle Bazinet was officially invested as a Member into the Order of Canada – one of the country’s highest honours.
The order recognizes people across all sectors of society who have made extraordinary and sustained contributions to Canada.
The Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, invested Bazinet on behalf of the Governor General of Canada Mary Simon.
Gravelle-Bazinet called the honour a privilege.
“It really is a very moving day for me,” she said.
“It is so significant that we were able to receive this here at Nipissing Serenity Hospice because this has been the most important volunteer project I ever undertook.”
Mathilde Gravelle Bazinet was officially invested as a Member into the Order of Canada on May 3, 2024 by the Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. (X/Edith Dumont/Photo taken by Olivia Parker)
Bazinet continues to contribute to hospice events and serves as director emeritus on the hospice’s board of directors, providing guidance to ensure the hospice continues its tradition compassionate care for palliative residents and their families.
Dumont said it was an honour to invest Bazinet into the Order of Canada.
“She thinks that we shouldn't be alone at the end of our life,” she said.
“It was a very touching moment for all of us.”
Dumont said the community is fortunate to have people like her being engaged for the elders and making sure that nobody is left behind.
The ceremony was emceed by Senator Lucie Moncion, who saluted Bazinet decades of service and contributions to health care, justice and education.
Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont invests North Bay's Mathilde Bazinet into the Order of Canada at Nipissing Serenity Hospice at a ceremony emceed by Senator Lucie Moncion on May 3, 2024. (X/Edith Dumont/Photo taken by Olivia Parker)
In June 2023, Bazinet was one of 60 Members appointed to the Order of Canada by Simon.
Since its creation in 1967, the Order of Canada has honoured more than 7,800 people who through service have shaped Canadian society and through their compassion have united communities.
Bazinet has received other honours during her long career, including the Senate Sesquicentennial Medal in 2017 and the June Callwood Circle of Outstanding Volunteers award in 2022.
The Nipissing Serenity Hospice also named their Distinguished Volunteer of the Year Award after her in 2021 in recognition of her ongoing support.
With files from CTVNorthernOntario.ca journalist Eric Taschner
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus survives vote calling for his ouster
Greg Fergus survived a vote to oust him as House of Commons Speaker on Tuesday, but with close to half of MPs expressing a loss of confidence in him, he faces a precarious path forward in maintaining order in Parliament.
'It was hell': Israeli mother held hostage with her children describes 51 days in captivity
Hagar Brodutch, her three children and four-year-old neighbour were kidnapped by Hamas-led militants from their home in Kfar Aza, Israel on Oct. 7 and held for 51 days. They were released in November, but Brodutch says her thoughts are never far from those still being held in Gaza.
'Unruly passenger' forces WestJet flight to make emergency landing in B.C.
A WestJet flight heading to Calgary had to make an emergency landing in northern B.C. Monday due to an incident involving an 'unruly passenger,' Mounties say.
P.E.I. kiteboarder 'lucky to be alive' after shark attack in Turks and Caicos
A professional kiteboarder from P.E.I. says he has been seriously injured in a shark attack that occurred while he was snorkelling in the Turks and Caicos Islands last week.
Teen dies after being hit by train in N.W. Calgary
A teenager has died after being hit by a train in northwest Calgary on Tuesday afternoon.
Black bear kebabs make family sick with parasitic worms
It was supposed to be a celebration, but one family’s unique meal of black bear meat sent several members to the hospital instead.
'It's his vacation too': Jimmy the baby goat joins 2-week road trip across Canada
After Jimmy the baby goat was shunned by his mother, a New Brunswick man took the kid on a two-week road trip across Canada.
The double-level airplane seat is back. This time, there’s a first-class version
It’s the airplane seat design that launched a thousand memes and kickstarted a media storm. And now the double-level seat is back – only this time, with a twist.
New COVID-19 subvariants become the dominant strains in Canada
More than four years after COVID-19 effectively shut down the world, two new variants of COVID-19 have become the dominant strains of the novel coronavirus in Canada.