Fr. John Walsh, a Montreal Catholic priest and longtime CJAD 800 favourite, will receive the Order of Canada this year, alongside the likes of actor William Shatner and longtime hockey writer Red Fisher.
Speaking to CJAD 800's Ken Connors last Friday, Fr. Walsh says he was informed of the honour by phone at the beginning of December, and was told he had to keep the news a secret until the Governor-General's office made the honour public on Dec. 29.
"It was a phone call from the Governor-General's office, Julie Payette's office, and it was to say that I had been awarded the Order of Canada, and there would be more contact in the near future," he said, "and then an email followed, and the email said that within the next two weeks I would be receiving the letter, and as well, two lapel pins for the Order of Canada, and as of the 29th, I'd be in the Order of Canada, and as a result, I can wear the pin and sign the post-nominal C.M. after my name to say I'm a member of the Order of Canada.
He was told he's receiving the honour for his work in bridging the gap between members of different faiths and for his decades of charity work in Montreal.