Dr. Peter Simon, President & CEO, Honoured with Order of Ontario

Published on January 2, 2024

The Order of Ontario, the province’s highest honour, recognizes outstanding individuals for their exceptional contributions.

The Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and Chancellor of the Order of Ontario, has announced 25 new appointments to the Order of Ontario for 2023 including Dr. Peter Simon, Michael and Sonja Koerner President & CEO of The Royal Conservatory. Dr. Simon, also a recipient of the Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of Hungary, has been recognized for his work in reshaping “Ontario’s musical education landscape one student at a time” as well as transforming the RCM over his 33-year tenure “into one of the world’s most respected music institutions” according to the Ontario Government news release about the appointments. Dr. Simon was also cited for the creation of Learning Through the Arts as well as spearheading "the creation of Koerner Hall, acclaimed as one of the finest acoustic venues in the world.”

“I would like to congratulate my fellow appointees to the 2023 Order of Ontario – this is an illustrious group, and I am proud and humbled to be included amongst them. Enabling all Ontarians to experience the transformative power of music continues to be a deeply personal initiative because ultimately it is through music and the arts that we satisfy our need for meaning and belonging and are able to explore the deepest levels of human awareness and experience. Music has a unique power to connect people in a truly profound way and is therefore critical to achieving the mutual accommodation and understanding that is the basis of a cohesive and successful society.”

Dr. Peter Simon

The Order of Ontario – the province's highest honour – recognizes leaders from all walks of life who have made extraordinary contributions in helping to build a stronger province, nation, and world. Members of the Order represent various sectors of society including education, culture, health care, and journalism, and since its creation in 1986, more than 800 people have been recognized. Appointments to the Order are made on the recommendation of an independent advisory council based on the merit of accomplishments of nominees put forward by members of the public.

“As Chancellor of the Order of Ontario, it is my privilege to congratulate the Order’s appointees for 2023. These Ontarians have demonstrated the highest levels of merit, excellence and dedication in their respective disciplines, and they have made significant impacts here at home and around the world," said Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont. “Our province gratefully acknowledges their remarkable contributions, which inspire us all to be leaders and change-makers.”

The 2023 appointees to the Order of Ontario are:

Jay Aspin
John M. Beck
Jo-Anne Clarke
Hon. David Collenette
Claire Crooks
Julie Di Lorenzo
John English
Lee Errett
Gervan Fearon
Patrick Foran
Blake C. Goldring
Herbert Ho Ping Kong
Blake Hutcheson
Michael Latner
Bernard Leduc
Joy MacDermid
Dwayne Morgan
Florence Ngenzebuhoro
Hazelle Palmer
Fred Possmayer
Peter Simon
Gary Slaight
George Trusler
Raquel Urtasun
Bhavana Varma

“I am proud of the incredible breadth and depth of talent we have here in Ontario. Each one of these exceptional Ontarians are leaders and trailblazers who exemplify the best of our province,” said Michael Ford, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism. “Their achievements, dedication and leadership have contributed to building a stronger Ontario and a better world for all. On behalf of a grateful province, congratulations to all the appointees being recognized.”