Lethbridge man to be appointed to Order of Canada

“When my office called and said that the Governor General’s office contacted them and wanted me to call them, I literally thought, because, of course, I worked with a lot of governments, that it was a threat assessment case, that somebody made a threat, and somebody wanted me to take a second look at a case,” says Cameron.

He adds, “The last thing I was expecting was that, so they kind of joked with me and said that this is a good news phone call. I don’t get a lot of those in my field.”

Cameron has been involved with supporting people in several high-profile incidents, including the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018, the mass fatal stabbing on the James Smith Cree Nation in 2022, the suicide of Amanda Todd in 2012, and the shooting at W.R. Myers High School in Taber in 1999.

The shooting in Taber led to the foundation of the CTIP two years later.

In many cases like those above, Cameron says it is important to offer support to more than just the direct friends and families of the victims.

“Many times, it is those helping them who are delaying their own response to grief, loss or trauma. It may be emergency workers, it may be folks who are, you know, close friends, but maybe had a little bit of a falling out and they might be struggling.”

He adds that it is important to follow up with those who are affected by trauma father down the line. Cameron says it is very common for difficult feelings to swell up on the anniversaries of traumatic events, but supports are not often offered at that point.

Cameron developed Canada’s first comprehensive violence threat risk assessment training program, which is now widely adopted. His model has been used to train more than 70,000 professionals in related fields.

He touted local agencies like school boards, the Lethbridge Police Service, and others for embracing his risk assessment model and taking its teachings seriously.

Among the other inductees into the Order of Canada are actor Ryan Reynolds, Holocaust survivor and educator Mariette Dodock, and curler Kevin Martin.

The bios for the other appointees from Alberta, as written by the Governor General’s office, include:

Lesley E. Paulette, O.C.
Smith’s Landing First Nation, Fitzgerald, Alberta
- Lesley Paulette was instrumental in renewing and sustaining culturally safe, community-led midwifery services in the Northwest Territories. Through her tireless advocacy and service to families, the community of Fort Smith experienced the return of family-centred birth, leading to NWT’s 2003 midwifery legislation. She was integral in developing the Midwifery Profession Act and its Standards of Practice, and helped establish exemplary programs in the territory.
Barry Kenneth Blanchard, C.M.
Canmore, Alberta
- Barry Blanchard is a world-renowned alpinist. He has initiated numerous complex and demanding ascents in the Rockies, the Alps and the Himalayas, some of which have not been repeated. For more than 40 years, he has been a guide, resource and mentor to countless mountain enthusiasts.
Nicole Bourque-Bouchier, C.M.
Fort McMurray, Alberta
- Nicole Bourque-Bouchier is a member of the Mikisew Cree First Nation and a prominent business leader in her community. As the CEO and co-owner of one of western Canada’s top employers, she has advanced the role of women in business and is at the forefront of Indigenous economic development in Alberta.
Jeanne Brigitte Lehman, C.M.
Edmonton, Alberta
- Jeanne Lehman demonstrated vision and leadership by launching initiatives that benefit the community. She founded the settlement and integration agency Francophonie albertaine plurielle (FRAP) and Black Canadian Women in Action, a national bilingual charity with three branches in western Canada. By promoting and empowering Black women and girls, she is improving and enhancing their opportunities.
Kevin Ray Martin, C.M.
Edmonton, Alberta
- Kevin Martin is a revered figure in curling. Widely recognized as Canada’s all-time greatest male curler, he helped guide the sport’s competitive development, including the establishment of the Grand Slam of Curling. He continues to contribute to the sport as a broadcaster, speaker, businessperson and teacher.
Charles Clayton Scott, C.M.
Banff, Alberta
- Chic Scott has climbed and skied around the world, from Mount Logan to the Himalayas. He was a trailblazer in mountain climbing and ski mountaineering in Canada, and made notable first ascents and ski traverses nationally and internationally. A dedicated author and historian, he developed a lasting catalogue of Canadian expeditions.
Gabriel David Tuccaro, C.M.
Fort Chipewyan, Alberta
- Gabriel David Tuccaro is among Canada’s most successful Indigenous entrepreneurs. Founder and leader of the Tuccaro Group and co-founder of the Northeastern Alberta Aboriginal Business Association, he actively elevates Indigenous business and contributes to the economic growth of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. A generous philanthropist, he supports and guides numerous community initiatives.

A date for the Order of Canada swearing-in ceremony has not been announced.

The full list of appointees is on the Governor General website.

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by David Opinko

Lethbridge man to be appointed to Order of Canada

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