In a moment that has made the nation proud, Firdaus Kharas, an India-born entrepreneur and thought leader, has been appointed as an officer of the Order of Canada, one of the country’s highest honours.
Known for advancing social change through the power of media, has been appointed officer of the Order of Canada after he made the annual list of 2023 appointees for the award which was released by Governor General of Canada Mary Simon on Thursday.
Simon stated that The Order of Canada is one of the country’s highest honours and recognises people across all sectors of society who have made extraordinary and sustained contributions to Canada.
Kharas in his statement said that he is deeply moved to receive this high honour, which is especially meaningful to him as an immigrant adding that although a high achieving community, Parsis are a minuscule community numbering only 3,600 in Canada, so it is extremely satisfying for him to be noticed in this way.
Kharas had founded Chocolate Moose Media in 1995, a social enterprise, to create mass communications to better the human condition the work of which has been used in 198 countries, in several languages including India.
The appointees of the award will be invited to an investiture ceremony to receive their insignia, the dates of which will be announced in due course.
This is a moment to cherish for Indians and Parsis as the award, first created in 1967 recognises outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation and the ones who have gone on to bear the Order’s iconic snowflake insignia have changed the nation’s measure of success and, through the sum of their accomplishments, have helped in building a better Canada.
