Wanda Koop, Bernadette Smith among 11 to get Order of Manitoba in 2016

Artist Wanda Koop, Indigenous activist Bernadette Smith and hockey player Reggie Leach are among 11people selected to receive the Order of Manitoba for 2016.

Provincial officials announced Thursday that Paul Albrechtsen, Marileen Bartlett, Maria De Nardi, Dr. Dhali Dhaliwal, Chief Betsy Kennedy, Dr. Gary Kobinger, Wanda Koop, Reggie Leach, Bernadette Smith, Susan Thompson and Wanbdi Wakita were selected to receive the order, which is considered the province's highest honour.

The order recognizes people who have demonstrated excellence in a variety of fields that benefit Manitoba and its residents. Each year, up to 12 people are selected.

The orders will be awarded on July 7 at the Manitoba Legislative Building.

Background on the recipients, from the Province of Manitoba

Paul Albrechtsenisa trucking magnate, business leader and philanthropist who foundedone of the leading bulk transport services in Western Canada. The Paul Albrechtsen Foundation has benefited many organizations, including the St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre, which now bears his family name.

Marileen Bartlett, a Mtis woman, community leader and entrepreneur, has dedicated more than 30 years to leadership in the field of Indigenous employment and training.She is also a firm believer that equitable access to education and training are essential to equitable participation by Indigenous people in the economy.

Maria De Nardi, the daughter of Italian immigrants, has contributed to the enrichment of Italian culture in Manitoba and was a founder of the Lupa di Roma Sons of Italy organization.She was instrumental in creating the Manitoba chapter of the Italian Chamber of Commerce and also co-founded a wholesale food distribution business serving Western Canada.

Dr. Dhali Dhaliwal, past president and CEO of CancerCare Manitoba (2003-13), introduced many leading-edge advancements in the prevention, rapid diagnosis and treatment of cancer.He also increased rural patients' access to cancer care and treatment through enhanced regional cancer centres.

Chief Betsy Kennedy, the longest-serving female chief in Manitoba, became chief of the War Lake First Nation in 2006.She has overseen the development of many health, environmental and economic additions to her community.

Dr. Gary Kobinger, one of the world's leading researchers in the global fight against Ebola, is chief of the special pathogens program at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg. He has been deployed to Africa several times as part of a mobile lab team to fight Ebola at its origin, helping to reduce the risk of it spreading to Canada.

Wanda Koop, one of Canada's pre-eminent contemporary artists and community activists, has made a substantial contribution to Canadian art for more than 40 years, with more than 50 solo exhibits worldwide. She also founded Art City, which offersfree art programs for inner-city youth.

Reggie Leach, who endured racism and poverty as a child, became "The Riverton Rifle,"one of the most gifted hockey players of his generation.With 13 seasons in the National Hockey League, he was named to the all-star team in 1976 and 1980, and also played for Team Canada in the 1976 Canada Cup tournament.

Bernadette Smithis best known for her dedication to pursuing justice for Canada's missing and murdered Indigenous girls and women.She is a leader in her community and across Canada.

Susan Thompson, the first and only woman mayor of Winnipeg, saw the city through the flood of 1997, its largest crisis in 100 years.She was also the first woman consul general at the Canadian Consulate in Minneapolis and the founding president and CEO of the University of Winnipeg Foundation.

Wanbdi Wakitaisa Dakota spiritual leader, residential school survivor and a veteran of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry peacekeeping mission in Europe.Most recently, he has spent more than 30 years working as an elder in federal, provincial and territorial prisons, and has devoted his life to teaching and healing the relationship between First Nations and non-First Nations people.