Former Surrey MLA Stephanie Cadieux is among 12 Order of B.C. recipients to be invested this week

Surrey resident Stephanie Cadieux is among 12 people named to receive the Order of British Columbia this year, recognized for driving lasting public-policy change and empowering people with disabilities in Canada and beyond.

The B.C. government announced the names Sept. 22. The appointees are to be invested at a Sept. 24 ceremony at Government House in Victoria.

Cadieux served as an MLA in three Surrey ridings over 13 years. She resigned as the MLA for South Surrey in April 2022 to become Canada’s first Chief Accessibility Officer. A wheelchair user since age 18, she has long advocated for diversity, accessibility and disability inclusion.

The other 2026 recipients are Selen Alpay of Prince George; Gail S. Anderson of Langley; Marc Bains, Robert Bauman, KC, Jill Bodkin and Dr. Jim Christenson, all of Vancouver; Bristol Foster, PhD, of Salt Spring Island; Marianne Ignace of Savona; Patrick Kelly of Victoria; Elio Luongo of Burnaby; and Vittorio Montagliani of West Vancouver. Their biographies are available at news.gov.bc.ca.

The Order of British Columbia recognizes people who have served with the greatest distinction and excelled in work benefiting people in British Columbia or elsewhere. It is the province’s highest honour for its people, and appointees become members for life.