Three-time Toronto mayor David Crombie and former Ontario opposition leader John Tory highlighted a list of 27 new appointees to The Order of Ontario.

The list of appointees was released Friday morning and includes Ontario citizens who contributed to the province in a variety of ways, including the arts, law, science, medicine and politics.

The Order of Ontario was created in 1986 and recognizes the highest level of individual excellence and achievement in any field.

"The Order of Ontario is the highest provincial honour bestowed on an individual," Lt.-Gov. David Onley said in a statement. "With it, we recognize the greatest minds, forward-thinkers, humanitarians, activists and pioneers in our province. These people change lives here and the world over."

Crombie sat as Toronto's 56th mayor from 1972 to 1978 and, due to his popularity and stature, was often referred to as the city's "tiny, perfect mayor."

He was lauded for socially-responsible urban policies, replanning the downtown and preserving important historical neighbourhoods.

Crombie continues as Founding Chair of the Waterfront Regeneration Trust and Chair of the Toronto Lands Corporation.

Tory is a lawyer and business leader who sat as Conservative MPP from 2005 to 2007 and held the position of leader of the PC Party until 2009. He unsuccessfully ran for Toronto mayor in 2003 and is currently a radio personality with Newstalk 1010.

The appointees will officially be inducted into the order in a ceremony on Thursday, January 26 at Queen's Park.

Other inductees into The Order of Ontario include:

  • Dr. Anna Banerji, a specialist in tropical and infectious diseases and world-renowned expert in the field of respiratory diseases in Inuit children.
  • Dr. Sandra E. Black, one of the world's pre-eminent cognitive neurologists specializing in stroke and dementia.
  • Sara Diamond, artist and president of OCAD University.
  • Charles Garrad, an internationally-recognized archaeologist, who has located over 90 archaeological sites across the province.
  • Donald Jackson, a world gold medalist in male figure skating who was the first to land a triple Lutz jump in competition in 1962.
  • Suzanne Pinel, a French-language educator and television personality recognized by generations of Ontario children as "Marie-Soleil".
  • Linda Schuyler, co-creator and executive producer of the multi-award winning Degrassi television franchise.
  • Rahul Singh of Etobicoke, founder of GlobalMedic which today has over 500 volunteers who have led more than 60 missions in over 30 countries.