From Left to Right (Top Row): Dr. Nima Zarrinbakhsh, Dr. Shadi Meshkat, Dr. Behrooz (Bruce) Jadidi, Mr. Joseph Cohen, Mr. François Bédard, Mr. Laurent Dallaire, Dr. Andrew Martindale, Dr. Kisha Supernant - From Left to Right (Bottom Row): Dr. Benjamin Britton, Dr. Steven Holdcroft, Dr. Kang Lee, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Ms. Sarah Hazell, Dr. Lisa Hodgetts, Mr. Christian Bagg - Photo credit: Corporal Alexandre Brisson, Canadian
Ottawa, ON – On May 14th 2024, the ninth annual Governor General’s Innovation Awards ceremony took place at Rideau Hall. These awards honour excellence in innovation across all sectors of Canadian society by celebrating Canadian individuals, teams, and organizations for their contributions that lead the way towards a brighter future and positively impact our lives.
To begin the ceremony, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, conveyed how these distinguished innovators:
“show us what happens when people with diverse perspectives exchange ideas […] Consider the innovative contributions from people with disabilities, who are directly addressing accessibility issues. Or consider Indigenous innovation, which builds on traditional knowledge to tackle issues like climate change, conservation and sustainability. Inspiration can come from any corner of this nation. Our diversity is not only a strength, but also a necessity for progress.”
The 2024 Governor General Innovation Awards laureates are:
- Christian Bagg, nominated by Ingenium
- The Canadian Archaeological Association Working Group on Unmarked Graves (CAAWGUG), nominated by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
- erthos – next-gen biomaterials platform, nominated by BDC
- Inneo, nominated by ADRIQ
- Dr. Kang Lee, nominated by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
- Dr. Steven Holdcroft and Dr. Benjamin Britton, nominated by Universities Canada and the Royal Society of Canada.
After an exceptional day honouring innovation in Canada, the Governor General Innovation Awards team would like to sincerely thank everyone involved in making this celebration possible, including the nominating partners, and the selection and assessment committees. In particular, the RHF extends an expression of gratitude to the Awards’ official donors, including Power Corporation of Canada, the Taylor Family Foundation, and Thomson Reuters.
To learn more about the Governor General Innovation Awards and the laureates, visit the official website.
