Guelph scientist Donna Strickland has been named to the Order of Canada.
Strickland was one of five people named Companions of the Order of Canada, the highest level within the order, by Governor General Julie Payette on Saturday.
She was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2018 for her research role in the 1980s on chirped pulse amplification, a technique that helped lay the foundation for short-pulse, high-intensity lasers that have become a key part of corrective eye surgeries.
Strickland was born in Guelph and attended Guelph CVI.
She is currently a professor at the University of Waterloo.
Strickland's was just the third woman ever to win the physics prize and the first Canadian female scientist.
Joining Strickland as Companions of the Order of Canada were filmmaker James Cameron, former prime minister Stephen Harper, McDonald's of Canada founder/philanthropist George Cohon and former Ambassador to the United States Raymond Chretien.
In addition to the five companions named, 38 people were named Officers of the Order of Canada and 77 members were named Members of the Order of Canada.
Appointments are made by the governor general on the recommendation of the Advisory Council for the Order of Canada.
Recipients will receive their recognition and insignia at a ceremony to be held at a later date.
