Leo W. Gerard, who as USW International President became one of the world’s most indomitable labour leaders, has received his country’s highest civilian honour – Companion of the Order of Canada.
Gerard’s appointment was announced in June by Governor General Mary Simon, who bestows the Order of Canada. Gerard has been recognized “for his vast and influential work in labour advocacy, notably as the seventh International President of the United Steelworkers union,” the Governor General stated.
Companion of the Order of Canada is the highest of the three levels of the Order of Canada. It is awarded for “outstanding achievement and merit of the highest degree, especially in service to Canada or to humanity at large.”
“I am honoured and overwhelmed to be appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada,” said Gerard, who retired in 2019 after serving 18 years as USW International President.
“This tremendous honour deserves to be shared by so many others, from my family to the members of my great union, to the countless other labour, social justice and political activists whom I was privileged to work alongside for five decades,” he said.
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