BURNABY, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwire – April 7, 2010) – Dr. Gary Birch, O.C., Executive Director of the Neil Squire Society, was invested into the Order of Canada, accepting his insignia today at 10:30 a.m. (EST) in Ottawa during an Order of Canada investiture ceremony. Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean (new window) , Governor General of Canada, presided over the ceremony at Rideau Hall. The Order of Canada recognizes outstanding achievement and service in various fields of human endeavour. It is our country’s highest civilian honour for lifetime achievement.
Dr. Gary Birch, was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada for his contributions to the development of the Neil Squire Society, an organization that develops programs, services and assistive technology for people with physical disabilities, and for his determination and ingenuity in helping Canadians with disabilities to achieve a higher quality of life.
“Dr. Birch has had a profound impact on the lives of so many Canadians. Today there are over twenty thousand Canadians who are now more fully participating in our society,” said Clay Braziller, Chair of the Neil Squire Society’s Board of Directors. “This does not include the thousands who every day use technology developed here, or those who will directly benefit from the work he is doing to make mobile devices accessible.”
About the Neil Squire Society
The Neil Squire Society is the only not-for-profit organization in Canada that for the past 25 years has used technology, knowledge and passion to empower Canadians with physical disabilities. The Society has developed innovative programs and services and some of the world’s leading edge assistive technology for people with physical disabilities. More than 20,000 people with disabilities in Canada have benefited from the work of the Society. With about fifty staff, the Neil Squire Society has offices and provides services to Canadian in Vancouver, Regina, Ottawa, Fredericton, and Moncton.
If you’d like more information about this topic, please contact Suzanne Cross by phone at 604-473-9363 or by e-mail at suzannec@neilsquire.ca.
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