Cline Dion elevated to highest Order of Canada honour

Cline Dion and her manager husband, Ren Anglil,werehonoured with the Order of Canada in Quebec CityFriday evening.

Dion, who was promoted to the order's highest levelcompanion in 2008, were officially invested at a ceremony at the Citadel of Quebec, by Governor General David Johnston.

"Your commitment to helping fellow Canadians and people around the world is inspiring and we are grateful for what you have done," said Johnston.

A citation from the office of the Governor General praises the famed singer as "an extraordinary ambassador for Canada" and lauds both her "unique voice" and stage presence as well as her "compassion, generosity and commitment to a number of social and humanitarian causes."

"I share this with my mother, who is here, andalso with my children who are still too young to measure the scope," said Dion. "I would also like to thankmy husband, Ren, who I owe so much to for the woman I became and the artist I am."

Meanwhile, Anglil becomes a member of the order after being appointed last November.

"I thank our children, a source of inspiration and pride," said Anglil, also saying that Dion was "an exceptional artist, wife, and mother."

The couple is in Quebec City for Dion's concert Une Seule Fois, featuring largely French material, on the Plains of Abraham on Saturday evening.

"I have to admit that I've had an amazing career that I'm proud of. Every time I come back home, it's something very unique and very special," said Dion.

It is a one-time-only show for the singer, who is in the midst of hersecond major Las Vegas residency at Caesars Palace Colosseumand prepping a new album for fall release.

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Earlier this month, the couple announced a donation of $100,000 tothe Red Cross to provide assistanceafter theLac-Mgantic train disaster. They were among a number of prominent figures from Quebec to offer monetary aid.

However, on Thursday, some questioned why the singer was not setting aside free tickets to her Quebec City show for Lac-Mgantic survivors,as singer Paul McCartney did for about 900 people from the communityfor his Plains of Abraham concert this week.