The Order of Canada is Canada's highest civilian honour, awarded to those who adhere to the Order's motto Desiderantes meliorem patriam meaning "they desire a better country." Created in 1967, it was established to recognize the lifetime contributions made by Canadians who made a major difference to Canada. The Order also recognizes efforts made by non-Canadians who made the world better by their actions. Musicians, politicians, artists, TV stars and benefactors and many more have been accepted into the Order. The Queen of Canada, Queen Elizabeth II, is Sovereign of the Order and the serving Governor General of Canada is its Chancellor and Principal Companion. Since 1967, more than 5,000 people have been appointed to the Order of Canada.

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Canada

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1687: Volume One of Isaac Newton's Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica was published for the first time. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophiae_Naturalis_Principia_Mathematica)

1811: Venezuela declared its independence from Spain. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuela)

1951: William Shockley invented the junction transistor. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transistor)

1962: Algeria became independent from France. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algeria)

1989: Oliver North was sentenced for his part in the Iran-Contra Affair. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_North)

_____________________ Wikiquote of the day:

"From time to time the exceptional is necessary. For events as well as for men, the stock company is not enough; geniuses are needed among men, and revolutions among events. Great accidents are the law; the order of things cannot get along without them; and, to see the apparitions of comets, one would be tempted to believe that Heaven itself is in need of star actors." -- Victor Hugo in ''Les Misérables (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Victor_Hugo)