Two prominent members of the McGill community have been named to the Order of Canada.
The appointments of McGill alumni Dr. Caroline Quach-Thanh (MSc’03) and David Fung (BEng’70, PhD’79) as Members of the Order were announced on June 26 by Governor General Louise Arbour. They were among 61 Canadians recognized for their extraordinary and sustained contributions. The award is one of Canada’s highest civilian honours.
McGill President and Vice-Chancellor Deep Saini congratulated Quach-Thanh and Fung, saying their appointments reflect the broad impact of McGill alumni across disciplines, from advancing public health and scientific knowledge to driving engineering excellence and sustainable innovation.
“On behalf of the McGill community, I extend my warmest congratulations to Dr. Caroline Quach-Thanh and Dr. David Fung on this well-deserved recognition,” said Saini. “Both reflect the very best of what a McGill education seeks to instill in our graduates: the expertise and leadership to make a meaningful difference, and an unshakable commitment to service. We are proud to celebrate their extraordinary contributions to Canada and to communities around the world.”
Order of Canada citation for Caroline Quach-Thanh
Microbiologist and infectious disease specialist Caroline Quach-Thanh is one of Canada’s leading public health figures. Professor at Université de Montréal and clinician at CHU Sainte-Justine, she has conducted research that has strengthened infection prevention and control in hospitals and the wider community. An outstanding communicator, she used her expertise to help the public understand the issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Order of Canada citation for David Fung
David Fung is a leading engineer, technology integrator and entrepreneur whose career spans sustainable industry, global manufacturing and cross-border innovation. He has built or revitalized more than 25 companies worldwide, advancing clean technology and circular-economy solutions. A prolific inventor and advisor, he has significantly shaped Canada–China economic and industrial relations.