PUBLISHED ONOctober 05, 20266:10 AM
Michael J. Fox received Canada’s highest civilian honour on Friday (Oct 2).
The Back to the Future actor made a rare public appearance at Rideau Hall, the official residence of the Governor General of Canada, in Ottawa to be promoted to the Companion level of the Order of Canada in recognition of his “powerful global advocacy and unflinching honesty about Parkinson’s”.
Governor General Louise Arbour said during the ceremony: “Your example reminds us of something that’s very fundamental: sustainable progress requires that we move forward with courage, imagination and determination.
“After all, back to the future has always been a much better idea than forward to the past.”
Michael was one of 51 people inducted into or promoted within the Order of Canada on Friday.
It was announced earlier this year that he would be promoted to the Companion ranking after previously being made an Officer in 2010.
The Governor General’s office said at the time: “Michael J. Fox is in a remarkable chapter of his life, blending selective acting with powerful global advocacy and unflinching honesty about Parkinson’s.
“Through his foundation, he drives transformative research and hope. He has inspired millions worldwide by channelling his voice into writing, public speaking, and the acclaimed 2023 documentary Still.”
The Spin City actor revealed in 1998 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and established the Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000, which has funded more than US$3 billion (S$3.8 billion) in research into the disease.
Last month, he received the prestigious Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the Emmy Awards for his “transformative contributions to Parkinson’s disease research and advocacy” and he hailed the accolade an “amazing, humbling honour”.
After a highlights reel from his career, Michael was introduced on stage at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater by his The Good Wife co-star Julianna Margulies and spoke about the award’s namesake and how he had learned from Bob Hope’s dedication to helping others.
He said: “I learned from his example. I couldn’t have known how these lessons would resonate in my own life, until my late 20s, when my life handed me a role I wasn’t looking for. Initially I kept my Parkinson’s diagnosis a secret. I worried it would affect my work and relationships with audiences.
“Would they laugh if they knew I was sick? I was stunned by the support from all of you, so uplifted and I hadn’t lost what I do. They couldn’t take it away from me. And it’s because you stood up for me…
“I understood that accepting Parkinson’s didn’t mean I had to surrender to it. It just meant I had to do everything I could for everyone living with this disease.”
Michael spoke of his pride in the work his eponymous foundation has done in research for Parkinson’s.
He added: “I set out to advocate for Parkinson’s disease and raise money.
“I found people to lead the effort for me and vowed to fund the best science in the world. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made to benefit Parkinson’s patients and families. We move closer to eradicating this disease forever.
“I’m deeply grateful to our staff, donors, researchers, and most of all the patient community who make our work at the Michael J. Fox Foundation possible.”
The Back to the Future star went on to thank his wife Tracy Pollan, the rest of his family and Bob Hope for “showing me how it’s done”.
Canadacelebritiesactors and actressesAwards and prizes
