Governor General Michaelle Jean invested 43 Canadians into the Order of Canada Wednesday, including Willie O'Ree, the first black player in the NHL.
Jean invested 31 as members of the Order, 11 as officers, and one companion of the Order of Canada in a ceremony at Rideau Hall.
Olympian Clara Hughes, children's author David Bouchard and Marc Kielburger, co-founder of Free the Children, were among those invested in the order.
O'Ree was honoured as a pioneer for hockey and for being a dedicated youth mentor in Canada and the U.S. Born in 1935 in New Brunswick, he played 45 games in the NHL, despite being almost completely blind in one eye.
Created in 1967 for Canada's centennial, the Order of Canada recognizes a lifetime of achievement and service.
More than 5,000 Canadians have been bestowed the honour since that time.
