Dr. Bonnie Henry has been nominated to receive an Order of Canada, the second highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit.
The Office of the Secretary to the Governor General responded to Daryl Hatton, who had expressed interest in nominating her for the award, by letting him know that they already have a file open for Dr. Henry from a previous nomination.
This information was made public in the Dr. Bonnie Henry Fan Club group on Facebook on April 29th.
After B.C. became one of the first provinces to be hit by the pandemic, the province was also the first to successfully beat the virus into retreat by implementing public health measures in a timely fashion, under the leadership of Dr. Henry.
The last day of April marked 100 days since Dr. Henry and Minister of Health Adrian Dix first started holding daily briefings to update British Columbians on the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic in the province.
Since then the duo, and particularly Dr. Henry, have been praised for their calm, collected, and informative approach in mitigating the transmission of the virus, keeping the public informed, and ultimately flattening the curve in B.C.
Her nomination for the Order of Canada may not come as a surprise to many, as the honour is granted to Canadians who have made extraordinary contributions to the nation.
According to the Governor General’s website, any living Canadian is eligible to be nominated for the Order as long as they are not elected officials and judges currently in office.
An advisory council reviews each nomination before passing on their recommendation to the Governor General. The review process can take up to two years to complete.
