Longtime CTV Montreal news anchor Mutsumi Takahashi received her Order of Canada medal Thursday in a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.
Governor-General Julie Payette presided over the ceremony, which honored 40 great Canadians for achievement in various fields. Among them — former federal and provincial cabinet minister Lucienne Robillard, and retired University of Sherbrooke professor Micheline Dumont, and Matthew Coon Come, a former Grand Chief of the Council of Crees and national chief of the Assembly of First nations, who received a promotion within the Order, to Officer.
Takahashi has been the voice of Montreal news for a generation, starting at CTV Montreal — then known as CFCF 12 — in 1982. Four years later, she sat in the anchor chair for the first time, where she's been ever since.
She was honored for her "integrity and commitment in maintaining high journalistic standards, and promoting understanding among Montreal's diverse population", as well as her support of local charities, including the McGill University Health Centre's Best Care for Life Campaign, which she co-chaired alongside the late Jean Beliveau.
Born in Japan, Takahashi moved to Canada with her family as a child. Since she was named to the Order of Canada, Takahashi has been able to prese over citizenship ceremonies, which she did in January.
"It was important for me to tell them that I was once there too," she said. "I stood there, I took the oath of citizenship, and I know what kind of hope these people have for themselves and for their children. I wanted them to understand that anything is possible now."