Ride for Sight Chairperson and former MP, Deborah Grey, appointed to The Order of Canada
December 01, 2007
December 2007 - Each year, the Governor General grants honours and awards on behalf of all Canadians to recognize those people who have demonstrated excellence, courage or exceptional dedication to service in ways that bring special credit to this country. Deborah Grey, former Alberta MP and Ride for Sight Chairperson, is one of those honoured in 2007.
She is among 61 individuals appointed to The Order of Canada, the centrepiece of Canada’s honours system which recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. The Order recognizes people in all sectors of Canadian society. Their contributions are varied, yet they have all enriched the lives of others and made a difference to this country.
"I was very surprised," said Deborah Grey of Edmonton, the first-elected Reform member of Parliament. She was out having coffee with her friend when she received the call from the Governor General's office.
"You never go into public office thinking that someone would really like me, or that I will get some big award. When you know that you're there to serve, you just do it."
Grey, who is also the Alberta Chairperson for Ride for Sight, an annual motorcycle fundraiser for The Foundation Fighting Blindness, added that she is not slowed down by her years.
"I just had my 55th birthday," she said giggling. "My daughter told me that I can now get 25 per cent off breakfast at Humpty's on Tuesday mornings, but I can never retire my bike," she said. Grey has served as Ride for Sight Honourary Chairperson in Alberta for the past three years. The motorcycle fundraiser, which takes place across Canada, has raised more than $16 million for eye research conducted through The Foundation Fighting Blindness.
"I am very passionate about vision research because it’s my sight that enables me to do so many things that I take for granted, like driving, reading, writing and one of my greatest passions – motorcycling,” said Grey. “All of the money raised through Ride for Sight goes to the Foundation Fighting Blindness, a national leader in vision research with some of its very best scientists here in Canadian universities and hospitals."
Across Canada, the Order of Canada list includes Bank of Canada governor David Dodge, former Supreme Court of Canada Justice Louise Arbour, NBA star Steve Nash -- a two-time league MVP -- and Walter Gretzky, father of hockey great Wayne Gretzky.
The Foundation Fighting Blindness thanks Deborah Grey for this lifetime achievement and for her ongoing role in helping find cures for blindness, through her leadership with Ride for Sight (www.rideforsight.com).