​Summary

• Twelve individuals have been appointed to the Order of British Columbia
• The investiture ceremony will take place at Government House in Victoria on Sept. 24, 2026

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Twelve people who exemplify excellence will be invested into the Order of British Columbia.

“As Chancellor of the Order of British Columbia, and in my role as the Crown’s representative, it is a profound privilege to recognize 12 outstanding individuals being welcomed into the order,” said Wendy Cocchia, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. “Their achievements reflect the very best of our province’s spirit – one of compassion, innovation and dedication to the common good. By inspiring others through their actions, they are helping to build a brighter future for British Columbia.”

The Order of B.C. is the province’s highest honour, recognizing individuals who have made exceptional contributions to British Columbia and beyond. Established in 1989, the order celebrates excellence across all walks of life and fields of endeavour.

“Each Order of British Columbia recipient has made an outstanding contribution to our province and to the world beyond,” said Premier David Eby. “Their hard work and their innovation exemplify the extraordinary leadership found in our province. They inspire us, and we congratulate them on this special honour.”

2026 recipients of the Order of British Columbia  

• Selen Alpay, MGC, Prince George – for strengthening lives across Northern B.C. through years of generosity, mentorship and hands-on service.
• Gail S. Anderson, PhD, Township of Langley – for her foundational work establishing forensic entomology in Canada, transforming criminal investigations and advancing justice through innovative research and global leadership.
• Marc Bains, Vancouver – for transforming personal adversity into life-changing support and innovative research in cardiac care throughout B.C. and the world.
• Robert Bauman, KC, Vancouver – for strengthening access to justice and modernizing B.C.’s legal system through decades of principled service, innovation and public engagement.
• Jill Bodkin, Vancouver – for her leadership in public service, finance and entrepreneurship; advancing global trade and investment; strengthening market integrity; fostering clean-energy innovation; and building international partnerships benefiting B.C. and beyond.
• Stephanie Cadieux, Surrey – for driving lasting change in public policy and empowering people with disabilities throughout Canada and beyond.
• Dr. Jim Christenson, Vancouver – for decades of pioneering work to transform emergency care in B.C. through innovation, life-saving advances in prehospital care and resuscitation science, and advocacy for improved care in remote Indigenous communities.
• Bristol Foster, PhD, Salt Spring Island – for shaping environmental stewardship in B.C. through decades of research, storytelling and protection of vital ecosystems.
• Marianne Ignace (Gulḵiihlgad), Savona – for advancing Indigenous language revitalization through years of research, education and community partnership.
• Patrick Kelly (T’esóts’en), Victoria – for strengthening reconciliation and unity across B.C. by bringing diverse communities together to resolve conflicts and advance lasting change.
• Elio Luongo, Burnaby – for his contributions to the province’s economy and communities through decades of business excellence, innovation and public service.
• Vittorio Montagliani, West Vancouver – for elevating the game of soccer from east Vancouver to the world stage, championing its unprecedented growth, and playing an instrumental role in bringing the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015 and FIFA World Cup 2026 to communities throughout British Columbia and Canada.

The appointees will be invested at a ceremony at Government House in Victoria on Sept. 24, 2026. Jill Bodkin has chosen to defer her investiture and will be invested at a future ceremony.

Learn More:

• To read the citations of the 12 Order of B.C. recipients, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/celebrating-british-columbia/honours-and-awards/order-of-bc/members
• For more information about the Order of B.C., including how to nominate someone, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/celebrating-british-columbia/honours-and-awards/order-of-bc