Order of Canada

Jacques Bensimon, C.M. (z'l)

Jacques Bensimon was a public film and television director, producer and executive in Canada. Born in Agadir, Morocco, Bensimon and his family immigrated to Montreal in 1958. He contributed to the production of over 30 NFB films including the direction of 20 ans après (1977), an exploration of the challenges faced by Francophone Sephardic Jews as they began to integrate into Quebec society during the 20 years following their immigration.

Talented and bilingual, Bensimon became managing director of TFO, the French-language network of TV Ontario when it launched in 1987. During his mandate, he helped to establish partnerships and co-production agreements with major television distributors around the world, like BBC, Arte and France Televisions. The exportation of much of Canada’s French-language media programming remains indebted to the work and institutional relationships fostered by Bensimon.

Leslie Dan, C.M.

Founder and president of a leading pharmaceutical manufacturing and research company, Leslie Dan is one of Canada's entrepreneurial success stories whose philanthropy extends far beyond our borders. Through the Canadian Medicine Aid Programme, which he founded, he has inspired others by donating millions of dollars of medicine and other aid to alleviate crisis situations in the streets of our large cities and around the world. Leslie has credited his perspective on helping others as coming from the teachings of Torah and Talmud. Some writings that have inspired him include the Bava Bathra talmudic tractate, including: "Charity is equal in importance to all other commandments combined." And, "Who gives charity in secret is greater than Moses."

Barbara Frum, O.C. (z'l)

Barbara Frum was a writer, broadcaster, interviewer and investigative journalist, acclaimed for her public affairs programmes on CBC radio and television.  Barbara was well known as host of the CBC Radio program,  As it Happens. Her skills as a tough, incisive and well-informed interviewer quickly made the program one of CBC Radio’s most popular and enduring programs (it still airs today, in virtually the same format), and she continued to host until 1981.

In 1981 CBC television created the Journal, a newsmagazine series that would follow the National each night at 10:22 p.m, Barbara and Mary Lou Finlay were hired as the show’s hosts. Frum became the sole host of the program and interviewed many notable people, including British PM Margaret Thatcher and Nelson Mandela.

Throughout her career Barbara won many prestigious awards including, National Press Club of Canada Award for Outstanding Contribution to Canadian Journalism, and Woman of the Year in the literature arts and education category, the Order of Canada, numerous Gemini Awards and a library is named in her honour.

Martin Goldfarb, O.C.

Martin Goldfarb is the founder of Almada Inc., a private equity company and is the Principal at Goldfarb Intelligence Marketing. He developed Goldfarb Consultants as a world leader in the field of market research with 26 offices in Europe and North and South America.  Martin has held senior positions in several public and private companies. He is a director of the Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation and a member of The Peter Munk Centre Innovation Committee. Martin co-authored Marching to a Different Drummer in 1988 and Affinity: Beyond Branding in 2010. He is an inaugural recipient of the University College, University of Toronto, Distinguished Alumni Award and received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from York University.  Mr. Goldfarb was designated an Officer of the Order of Canada in recognition of his pioneering work in the market research industry and philanthropic activities. 
 

Murray Koffler, O.C. (z'l)

Murray Bernard Koffler was a Canadian pharmacist, businessman, and philanthropist. He was best known for founding the Canadian pharmacy chain Shoppers Drug Mart, establishing the Koffler Centre of the Arts, co-founding the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, and as an initial investor and partner in Four Seasons Hotels.

The Marvelle Koffler Breast Centre and the Murray Koffler Urologic Wellness Centre were both established through their generous philanthropy to the Mount Sinai Hospital. In 1969, Koffler rallied the pharmaceutical community, among others, to launch The Council on Drug Abuse (CODA), a charitable non-profit association with the mandate to prevent substance abuse. 

In 1971, Koffler and two other Jewish community leaders, Albert Latner and Ray Wolfe, purchased the Canadian Jewish News. He was a major supporter of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. In 1979, Koffler opened the first Super-Pharm pharmacy, in Herzliya, Israel. Super-Pharm is still owned by the Koffler family, and there are currently 202 locations in Israel.

David Lepofsky, C.M.

David Lepofsky is a Canadian lawyer and disability advocate. He holds an LLB from the Osgoode Hall Law School (1979) and an LLM from the Harvard Law School. David is a visiting professor of Disability Rights and Legal Education (part-time) at the Osgoode Hall Law School and a past adjunct member of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. He holds volunteer leadership roles in the disability community. He is chair of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance. He is a member and past chair of the Toronto District School Board’s Special Education Advisory Committee. He is also a member of the Kindergarten-Grade 12 Education Standards Development Committee appointed by the Ontario Government to recommend reforms to tear down barriers impeding students with disabilities.

David was named one of Canada's 25 most influential lawyers by Canadian Lawyer Magazine. However, he was left wondering: “If I am so influential, why doesn’t anyone listen to me?”

David is the author of one law book, and the author or co-author of 30 law journal articles or book chapters on topics including constitutional law, criminal law, administrative law, human rights, and the rights of persons with disabilities. He lectures on these topics and others around the world.

Carol Tator, O.C.

Carol Tator is a leader in the field of anti-racism and equity. Former course director at York University, she has co-authored some of the most influential texts on the topics of racism and discrimination in Canada. In addition to her research, she has been an activist on the front lines of the anti-racism and equity movement for decades. An expert consultant, she developed and implemented policies to dismantle systemic racism in Canadian institutions, including the media, the police, the education system and the arts.