Eight members of the McGill University community were among the latest appointees to the Ordre national du Québec, honoured by Premier Christine Fréchette during a ceremony June 17 in Quebec City. The award recognizes individuals whose careers have advanced Quebec’s scientific, public and civic life.
Quirion’s McGill legacy in neuroscience and public science leadership
Rémi Quirion was named Grand officier of the order. Quirion is a leading Canadian neuroscientist and served as Quebec’s first Chief Scientist. A McGill professor emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry, he held senior academic roles at McGill including Vice-Dean (Life Sciences and Strategic Initiatives) in the Faculty of Medicine and Senior University Advisor (Health Sciences Research). His work at McGill and the Douglas Mental Health University Institute Research Centre helped advance international research on Alzheimer’s disease and neurobiology, while establishing him as one of the world’s most cited neuroscientists.
Appointed as Quebec’s first Chief Scientist in 2011, Quirion advised the government on research policy and innovation for 15 years while chairing Quebec’s research funding boards. He also became a prominent public voice for science in Quebec and internationally, including as president of the International Network for Government Science Advice.
Other McGill-affiliated appointees
Along with Quirion, the other McGill-affiliated honourees reflect the University’s broad impact across public service, health sciences, law, policing and biomedical research. They include:
- Fady Dagher (MBA’12), Chief of the SPVM. Named chevalier.
- Darren Entwistle (MBA’88), businessman and philanthropist. Named chevalier.
- Michael Goldbloom (BCL’78), leader in academia, media and community affairs. Named chevalier.
- Martine Hébert (BA’82), researcher specializing in sexual violence. Named chevalière.
- Véronique Hivon (BCL’94), former Quebec cabinet minister and MNA. Named officière.
- Donna Mergler (BSc’65, PhD’73), neurophysiologist and researcher in environmental health. Named chevalière.
- Claude Perreault (MDCM’77), physician-researcher in immunobiology and cancer. Named chevalier.