Stephen Poloz appointed to the Order of Canada

Former Governor of the Bank of Canada and Osler Special Advisor Stephen Poloz has a new title to add to his already long and impressive resume: Officer of the Order of Canada.

Stephen was one of the 83 people appointed to the Order today by Governor General Mary Simon, on the recommendation of the Advisory Council for the Order of Canada.

“The Order of Canada recognizes individuals who have made positive and lasting impacts on communities here in Canada or who have brought honour to our country abroad. As we progress towards an Order that is reflective of Canada’s full diversity, I encourage all Canadians to nominate individuals who inspire them, from all walks of life and backgrounds. Congratulations to the new appointees and thank you to the nominators who cast a spotlight on their achievement, purpose and exceptional talent,” said Simon.

The list of appointees includes a brief description of each recipient of the Order and their contributions to Canada. In his entry, Stephen is referred to as a “renowned economist” who “served the Canadian public for more than three decades. As president and CEO of Export Development Canada, and then as governor of the Bank of Canada, he helped facilitate our country’s international trade and promote its economic well-being. A frequent speaker, visiting scholar and author, he continues to share his significant expertise at home and abroad.”

Even today, Stephen continues to work on behalf of the country. In the 2024 Federal Budget, he was named as the head of a working group created to explore how Canadian pension funds could identify investment opportunities in Canada, and while the original plan was to have seven or eight members in the group, Stephen has undertaken the task on his own and expects to submit his report this summer.

As for being named to the Order of Canada, Stephen says “Being recognized in this way, by your own country, is incredibly meaningful…this proud Canadian just became even more so.”

According to the announcement from Rideau Hall, “appointees will be invited to an investiture ceremony at a later date to receive their insignia. The dates of these ceremonies will be announced in due course.”