Williams was announced as an Order of Canada recipient last year, however her investiture took place last Friday (Feb. 13) at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, where Governor General David Johnston praised her contributions as a public health leader promoting effective policies in early childhood development.

Williams is Ontario’s Associate Chief Medical Office of Health. She also served for 16 years as Niagara Region’s medical officer of health before stepping down in 2011. A former Niagara Falls pediatrician, her career has been characterized by a passion for children’s health and wellbeing. In July 2014 she was appointed to a three-year term on Brock’s Board of Trustees.

Last week in Ottawa she was among 46 Canadians from many walks of life being honoured for their dedication to communities and to the nation

“I was struck by how many of my co-recipients — from fields of art, science, music, dance, professions, philanthropy — had a line in their biographies about their work with and for children,” Williams said of the Rideau Hall ceremony.

“The motto of the Order of Canada is ‘desiderantes meliorem patriam’ (desire a better country), and it made me wonder if we shouldn’t be adding ‘ad infanta’ to the motto, that we ‘desire a better country for our children’.

“The Governor General did encourage the group to wear our medals, and challenged us to leverage the medals in support of Canada’s children. You can be sure I am trying to figure out how to do that!”