Dr. Adel Sedra, Distinguished Professor Emeritus and past dean of the Faculty of Engineering, was named an Officer of the Order of Canada. He is among four people with connections to the University of Waterloo included in the list of new honourees.
Sedra served as dean of the Faculty of Engineering from 2003 to 2012. The Sedra Student Design Centre bears his name in recognition of his significant contributions to student learning at Waterloo. With Dr. Kenneth C. Smith, he co-authored Microelectronic Circuits, considered a definitive reference and textbook that has bolstered the education of more than a million students around the world.
"Adel Sedra has helped shape engineering education globally and here at Waterloo especially where students continue to learn from him and benefit from his legacy of leadership," said Dr. Vivek Goel, president and vice-chancellor of Waterloo. "His influence extends to his research, which has informed important work in fields such as medical technology and wireless communications. Congratulations to him on this deserved recognition."
The Honourable John Manley was promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada. A member of Waterloo's Board of Governors from 2005 to 2011, Manley was a member of Parliament who served in several senior roles in the Government of Canada, including as deputy prime minister of Canada.
Dr. Tom Chau, who earned a PhD in systems design engineering from Waterloo in 1998, is a professor and leader in the field of pediatric rehabilitation, whose work supports children with complex disabilities. The Hummer, an award-winning device Chau developed, captures the vibration of children's vocal cords to operate computers and other communication tools. He was named an Officer of the Order of Canada.
And Claudette McGowan, founder and CEO of the cybersecurity company Protexxa, was named a Member of the Order of Canada. McGowan, a global IT leader, received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Waterloo in 2023.
"It is rewarding and affirming for our whole community when Waterloo alumni lead transformational work, as Dr. Chau has done to improve the lives of children," Goel said. "What's more, Waterloo has been fortunate to work with exceptional leaders with global impact, like the Honourable John Manley and Claudette McGowan. I congratulate these honourees and thank them for their contributions to the University and beyond."
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, announced 83 new appointments to the Order of Canada on June 30. Investiture ceremonies will take place in the future. For more information on the awards, please visit the website for the Governor General of Canada.
