Prof Jacobs (right) stands with Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette
Last month in Ottawa, Windsor Law professor Beverley Jacobs was invested into The Order of Canada by her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada.
Created in 1967, the Order of Canada recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. Close to 7,000 people from all sectors of society have been invested into the Order. Those who bear the Order’s iconic snowflake insignia have changed our nation’s measure of success and, through the sum of their accomplishments, have helped us build a better Canada.
The Order of Canada is one of our country’s highest civilian honours. Its Companions, Officers and Members take to heart the motto of the Order: DESIDERANTES MELIOREM PATRIAM (“They desire a better country”).
“I accepted to bring honour to the spirits of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and to show to my grandkids that whatever they dream to do will come true,” said Professor Jacobs, who was described as a champion for Indigenous rights. As the lead researcher of the pioneering Stolen Sisters report—an Amnesty International Canada initiative—she helped bring the stark reality of violence against Indigenous women and girls to public attention.
Carrying on her work as president of the Native Women’s Association, Professor Jacobs secured significant funding for the research, education and policy initiative Sisters in Spirit. Her dedication to raising awareness of the plight of Indigenous women and girls is also reflected in her academic appointment within the Faculty of Law and in her community involvement.
Read more in the University of Windsor's Daily News.