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
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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)
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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)