CAW leader recognized with high honour

DURHAM -- When Buzz Hargrove got the phone call telling him he was being made an officer of the Order of Canada, he said he thought it was a joke.

"At first, I thought it was a prank," the Canadian Auto Workers union leader said about the call he got a couple of weeks ago.

When he realized the person calling him was actually a representative from the Governor General's office, Mr. Hargrove said he was thrilled.

"I was elated to receive this recognition as a trade union leader who has worked at improving the lives of workers."

Mr. Hargrove said he has always been passionate about social justice issues. Most recently a dinner held in his honour raised about $3 million for Eva's Initiatives, a Toronto-based charity that works with at-risk youth.

The Governor General of Canada's website said Mr. Hargrove is being honoured for his "contributions as a labour leader who is respected on both sides of the bargaining table and for his advocacy for equality and human rights in Canada and abroad."

The Order of Canada was established in 1967. The award is given to those who achieve and serve in a myriad of fields. It's Canada's highest civilian honour for lifetime achievement.

Appointments are made on the recommendations of the Advisory Council on the Order of Canada, an independent council chaired by the chief justice of Canada. Groups or individuals can nominate any Canadian for appointment to the Order.

Mr. Hargrove will retire as the head of the CAW in 2009. He said he has no plans yet for what he will do after he ends his career.