SOUTH Asians Saroj Saigal of Hamilton, Ontario, and Mahesh Chandra Sharma of Montreal, Quebec, have been appointed to Order of Canada by Governor General Mary Simon.

They were among the 83 new appointments to the Order of Canada, including 2 Companions, 19 Officers and 62 Members. One appointment is a promotion within the Order, and another represents an honorary appointment.

The Order of Canada is the cornerstone of the Canadian Honours System. Since its creation in 1967, more than 8 200 people from all sectors of society have been appointed to the Order.

Simon said: “Congratulations to the newest appointees to the Order of Canada. We proudly recognize each of these individuals whose dedication and passion for service not only enrich our communities but also help shape the fabric of our nation. Together, they inspire us to strive for greatness and to foster a future filled with hope and possibility.”

Saroj Saigal (Officer)
Hamilton, Ontario

Her citation reads: “Saroj Saigal has helped shape the field of neonatology. She is internationally renowned as the first researcher to examine the lives of extremely premature infants from a qualitative perspective and is praised for this humanistic approach. She has shifted attitudes towards preterm infants and increased our understanding of their long-term outcomes.”

According to McMaster University’s “McMaster Experts, Saigal obtained her medical degrees (MBBS, MD Ped) and pediatric training in India. She did her neonatal fellowship at the Universities of Edinburgh, McGill, and McMaster, and received further postgraduate degrees.”

She joined the pediatric faculty at McMaster University, Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, as a neonatologist (1973 -2004), and Director of the Neonatal Follow-up Program for high-risk infants (1973 -2013).

An article on the Hamilton Health Sciences website states: “When Dr. Saroj Saigal began her career as a neonatologist in the early 1970s, caring for the tiniest premature infants was a fairly new medical specialty. At the time, there were just a handful of neonatal intensive care units (NICU) in Canada. After her training at McGill University, Saigal became aware of some forward-thinking plans for a new Regional Referral Tertiary Care Perinatal Unit in Hamilton, pioneered by neonatologist Dr. Jack Sinclair and McMaster University’s Chair of Pediatrics, Dr. Alvin Zipursky, so she decided to start her career here.

“Fifty years later, she is still with Hamilton Health Sciences, caring for premature babies at McMaster Children’s Hospital, conducting research and making a difference in the lives of thousands of families.

““HHS is so proud to have had Dr. Saigal with our organization for 50 years,” says Rob MacIsaac, President and CEO, Hamilton Health Sciences. “She has had a successful career here and is a true inspiration.””

The article states that Saigal “says she enjoys participating in the follow-up clinic and has no plans to retire anytime soon.”

Mahesh Chandra Sharma (Member)
Montréal, Quebec

His citation reads: “Mahesh Sharma is a civic-minded philanthropist and leader. A beloved professor and mentor at Concordia University, he established scholarships to honour the memory of his family who were victims of Air India Flight 182. He also actively champions social causes supporting vulnerable individuals and the wider community.”

According to his biography on the Concordia University website, Sharma is Professor, Supply Chain and Business Technology Management, and has been with the faculty since September 1975, He received his BEng in Mechanical Engineering – India, his Graduate Diploma in Gas Turbine Designs and his MEng in Supersonic Aerodynmics and MBA from McGill University.

His biography states: “He has 28 years of industrial experience in the field of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering; a Chief Engineer of a multi-national company for over five years; a Chartered Engineer and a registered Professional Engineer.

“He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in Operations Research, Production and Operations Managagement, Organization Theory, Engineering Management, Project Management, Finance and Economics for Engineers, Mechanical Engineering Designs, Theory of Machines, Gas Turbines Performance, Structural Designs, Statistics for Business, Mathematical Statistics for Engineers, Applied Engineering Mathematics, Aerodynamics, Project Management, Linear Models, and Numerical Analysis. His research focuses on Project Management, Production Planning, Subsonic and Supersonic Aerodynamics.”