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Thomas Axworthy awarded Diamond Jubilee Medal

Published: 
February 7, 2012

Thomas AxworthyThe Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation is pleased to announce that President and CEO Thomas Axworthy has been awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

As part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, 60, 000 deserving Canadians will be recognized with this medal, created to mark the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada. The Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, presented Mr. Axworthy and others with this historic medal at the inaugural ceremony in the Vice-Regal Suite on February 6, 2012.

The Governor General’s office describes the medal as “a tangible way for Canada to honour Her Majesty for her serviceDiamond Jubilee Medal to this country. At the same time, it will serve to recognize significant contributions and achievements by Canadians.”

Thomas Axworthy has had a distinguished career in government, academia, and philanthropy. Early in his career, he served as Senior Policy Advisor and Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, before leaving politics to teach. In 1984, Dr. Axworthy went to Harvard University as a Fellow of the Institute of Politics at the Kennedy School of Government. He was subsequently appointed visiting Mackenzie King Chair of Canadian Studies.  In 1999, Dr. Axworthy helped to create the Historica Foundation to improve teaching and learning of Canadian history, becoming its Executive Director until 2005. To recognize his achievements in heritage education (he initiated the Heritage Minutes), civics, and citizenship, Dr. Axworthy was invested as an Officer of the Order of Canada (2002).  

Dr. Axworthy has been the President and CEO of the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation since 2009.

For more information, please visit www.gg.ca/diamondjubilee.

Topic Area(s): Foundation