Two McMaster professors named to Order of Canada

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[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/warner_jain.jpg” caption=”Harish Jain and Gary Warner”]

McMaster professors Harish Jain and Gary Warner have been named to the Order of Canada. Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada, announced the appointments yesterday.

Jain is a professor emeritus of human resources in the DeGroote School of Business. He specializes in human rights as it relates to various aspects of employment
and industrial relations. The author of numerous articles and books, Jain has
advocated for racial and other minority rights locally, nationally and internationally.
He was appointed as Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission in
April of this year. Most recently, Jain has been a policy and research consultant
to the Government of South Africa, Department of Labour, assisting with the
transition to de-segregation in all sectors of society. He is currently Donald
Gordon Visiting Professor at the Graduate School of Business at the University
of Cape Town.

“I am humbled, honoured and overjoyed by this appointment. It is a privilege
to be a Canadian,” says Jain. “My interest has been to help the
underrepresented and underprivileged such as racial minorities through teaching,
research and community service.”

Gary Warner has taught courses on French African and Caribbean literature,
on French language and 17th-Century literature, as well as on peace and international
development at McMaster. He recently completed a five-year term as director
of the interdisciplinary Arts & Science Program. Outside the University,
he has been active internationally and within the Hamilton community for more
than 30 years on issues related to international development, The recipient
of numerous awards, Warner was recognized in 1998 with the Hamilton Black History
Month J.C. Holland Award, Professional Category, and in March, 2004 with the
McMaster Students Union Lifetime Achievement Award.

“Being named a Member of the Order of Canada represents for me recognition
of the path that I have chosen, combining my academic interests with a strong
commitment to community service and to values of equity and social justice,”
says Warner. “As an immigrant to Canada, I also see it as recognition
of the positive contribution that immigrants and refugees make to this country,
contrary to some negative stereotypes. And as an African Canadian, I see it
as part of my mentorship role to youth in general, and to African Canadian and
visible minority youth in particular.”

The Order of Canada, established in 1967, is Canada's highest honour for lifetime achievement. Three different levels of membership–Companion, Officer and Member–honour people whose accomplishments vary in degree and scope. The 82 appointments announced yesterday bring the number of recipients announced this year to 157. Jain, Warner and other 2005 recipients will be invited to accept their insignia at a ceremony to be held at a later date.