Walter Gretzky, Steve Nash,
Louise Arbour, Jack Irving get Order of Canada



CanadianPress.com
December 28th, 2007
                      
Louise Arbour is being named to the top rank of companion of the Order -
the country's highest civilian honour. The former judge is now the UN high commissioner
for human rights. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Keystone, Dominic Favre



OTTAWA - The most famous hockey dad in Canada leads a star-studded list of new recipients of the Order of Canada.

Rideau Hall announced Walter Gretzky is included on a long list of winners that includes basketball star Steve Nash, former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour and oilman Jack Irving.

Arbour is being named to the top rank of companion of the Order - the country's highest civilian honour. The former judge is now the UN high commissioner for human rights.

Another human-rights activist, Alex Neve of Amnesty International, is being named to the next-highest rank of Officer of the Order.

Neve is joined in that category by Deborah Grey, the first MP elected to Parliament for the Reform Party of Canada in 1989.

Olympic speedskater Clara Hughes was also named an officer.

Walter Gretzky, best known for fathering the NHL's all-time leading scorer and producing the famous backyard rink upon which Wayne Gretzky learned to skate, was named for his work with various charities.

His son was appointed to the order in 1984, when Wayne Gretzky's NHL career was barely getting underway.

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