The 2014 recipients of the Order of Prince Edward Island were announced today by the Chancellor of the Order, His Honour the Honourable H. Frank Lewis, Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island and Mr. Charles Curley, Chair of the Order of Prince Edward Island Advisory Council.

The three Islanders selected to receive the honour are:

Mr. H. Wayne Hambly, CM of Charlottetown;

Mr. H. Wade MacLauchlan, CM of West Covehead; and

Ms. Heather Moyse of Summerside.

These three individuals were selected from a total of 44 Islanders nominated to receive the award this year.

The honour was first conferred in 1996. Since then there have been three Islanders invested each year. The 2013 inductees into the Order were Ms. Vera Elizabeth Dewar, CM, OPEI of Stratford and Brudenell, Honourable Alexander B. Campbell, CM, OPEI of Stanley Bridge, and the late Dr. Joyce Madigane, OPEI of Bideford.

The honour is awarded as a means of recognizing those Islanders who have shown individual excellence or outstanding leadership in their community and in their chosen occupation or profession. It is the highest honour that can be accorded to a citizen of the Province. It is awarded annually following a public nomination process with recipients being selected by an independent nine-person Advisory Council each year. Insignia of the Order will be presented by the Lieutenant Governor at a special investiture ceremony in September at Government House, Charlottetown.

Information on the three recipients:

H. Wayne Hambly, CM

H. Wayne Hambly set out on his own over forty years ago, beginning with apartment buildings before branching out to include mini-home parks, a furniture store and recreational vehicles as part of his entrepreneurial enterprise. As he successfully moved into new ventures, Hambly won accolades from such groups as Rotary and the Chamber of Commerce. He has served on the boards of United Way, Holland College Foundation, Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Spring Park United Church. In 2007 Hambly was a co-recipient, with his wife Wilma, of the Red Cross Humanitarians of the Year award. For twenty years, the energy Hambly put into his businesses has also been funneled into The Fathers of Confederation Memorial Buildings Trust which operates PEI’s Confederation Centre of the Arts. In addition, Hambly has assisted with establishing the Symons Medal and Lecture on the State of Canadian Confederation. As one figure describes this civic-minded citizen, Hambly provides a “steady and enthusiastic hand at the helm” of many ventures. For his contributions to the economic and cultural life of our province, which has earned his appointment this year to the Order of Canada, H. Wayne Hambly is a worthy recipient of the Order of Prince Edward Island.

H. Wade MacLauchlan, CM

A consideration of the career that H. Wade MacLauchlan has had at Dalhousie Law School, the University of New Brunswick and, particularly, as president of the University of Prince Edward Island from 1999 to 2011, combined with his advocacy for learning and his practical skills in writing, diplomacy and fundraising, would fill pages. MacLauchlan made immense contributions to the development and expansion of UPEI – student enrolment has increased, infrastructure has grown, new areas of research and expertise have opened up, and UPEI has been positioned close to the front of the mind of those seeking to pursue excellence. MacLauchlan has been recognized for his efforts in education by being named a Member of the Order of Canada in 2008, and in 2010 received the IPAC Award for Excellence in Public Service. He has served on numerous boards and committees, such as the Georgetown Conference on the revitalization of Atlantic Canada’s rural communities, and most recently completed a biography of a former PEI premier, Alex B. Campbell. MacLauchlan’s remarkable achievements, in partnership with others are abiding contributions to the social, economic and cultural life of our province that fully justify the awarding of the Order of Prince Edward Island to H. Wade MacLauchlan, a multifaceted educator, administrator and community advocate.

Heather Moyse

Heather Moyse is a fine example of an Islander who has excelled in her chosen field in a short span of time and whose commitment to athletic excellence reaches back to her days in high school where she competed well in track and rugby. Continuing this run of success, in 2002 she was inducted into the University of Waterloo Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2010 earned the title Female Athlete of the Year in two provinces. Of course, the highlight of her professional career – so far – is her gold medal triumphs in the bobsleigh events in the Winter Olympics of 2010 and 2014. None of these achievements came without effort, but if prowess appears natural, then the practice can be overlooked. The recognition of Moyse’s contribution to the cultural life of our province takes into consideration not just her moment on the dais but her innumerable hours in gyms, on fields, on her own and as part of teams. For her career as an athlete and Olympian, and for her charitable work – achievements we are proud to see in one of our own – that reflects, in part, the nature of her birthplace, Heather Moyse deserves the Order of Prince Edward Island.