Longtime hockey broadcaster Scott Oke received national recognition Wednesday.
Oak is one of 88 recipients of the Order of Canada, which recognizes those who have made a lasting impact on their communities.
“Members of the Order of Canada are builders of hope for a better future. In their own way, they broaden the realm of possibility and inspire others to continue to push boundaries,” Premier Mary Simon said in a statement.
Oak, who was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia, has appeared on national hockey broadcasts since 1989, when he was employed by Hockey Night in Canada. He currently serves as the host of “Sportsnet” after get off work Saturday night.
Away from the rink, Oak co-founded the Bruce Oak Recovery Center as an addiction treatment facility in Winnipeg.
Other recipients of the Order of Canada include actor and Wrexham AFC boss Ryan Reynolds, footballer-turned-doctor Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and curling great Kevin Martin.
Canadian Olympic Committee president Tricia Smith was promoted from member to officer of the Order of Canada, while former Montreal Canadiens president Pierre Boivin was promoted to fellow officer.
Smith said she was “honored” by the promotion.
“I have been blessed to be involved in sports in my life and then to be able to volunteer to help share that experience. Sports have the power to teach, inspire and bring us together like nothing else. I am proud to be associated with This honor is shared by my colleagues and everyone who has been a part of my sporting career,” she said in a statement released by the Olympic committee.
Martin said he didn’t know who nominated him for the award, but called it a surprise and an honor.
Martin’s resume includes the 2008 world championship, a silver medal at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games and four gold medals at the Brier Games, and he also holds the record with 17 Grand Slam titles.
Rideau Hall credits Martin with helping guide the sport’s competitive growth and contributing to the sport as a broadcaster, speaker, businessman and teacher.
“Whatever you’re doing, you try your best to develop whatever part of society you want to live in and do the best you can,” he said.
“It would be awesome if something like this happened. But this was unexpected.”
New members of the Order are invited to participate in a ceremony and receive their badge. A statement from Rideau Hall said the ceremony would be announced “in due course”.
–With files from The Canadian Press
