Sheldon Kennedy, Linda Hughes, six others to receive Alberta Order of Excellence

Abuse prevention advocate Sheldon Kennedy, educator and academic Leroy Little Bear and  Linda Hughes, former publisher of the Edmonton Journal, are among eight people who will receive the Alberta Order of Excellence Wednesday.

The order is the highest honour the province can bestow on its citizens. The investiture ceremony takes place Wednesday at Government House in Edmonton.

Lt.-Gov. Lois Mitchell will invest these newest members of the Order of Excellence:

• Barry Bultz, Calgary. Clinical psychologist. A pioneer of psychosocial oncology in Canada.
• Linda Hughes, Edmonton. Former publisher of the Edmonton Journal, former chancellor of the University of Alberta and current chair of Alberta Health Services board.
• Sheldon Kennedy, Calgary. Former NHL player, founder of the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre. Advocate for the prevention of child sexual abuse
• Leroy Little Bear, Lethbridge. Educator and academic, founder and former chairman of the Native American Studies Department at the University of Lethbridge. Former director of the Harvard University Native American Program.
• Michael Massey, Edmonton. Music director and conductor of the Edmonton Youth Orchestra.
• Paulette Patterson, Grande Prairie. Volunteer, community advocate. Founding president of the John Howard Society in Grande Prairie; fundraiser for Odyssey House, the first women's shelter in northern Alberta; past chair of the Grande Prairie Citizens' Appeal Panel. Founding member of the Premier's Council in Support of Alberta Families. Founding member of the Alberta Wildrose Foundation.
• Shirley Penner, Calgary. Founder and CEO of Youth Singers of Calgary.
• Bill Yuill, Medicine Hat. Chair of The Monarch Corporation, owner of the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League, philanthropist.

Including this year's new members, 157 Albertans have received the Order of Excellence since the award was created in 1979.