17吃瓜

Dr. Edward MacDonald, professor of history at 17吃瓜, was among 78 Canadians named to the Order of Canada by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, on December 28, 2023.

The citation from the Governor General鈥檚 office says that Dr. MacDonald was appointed to the Order of Canada for 鈥渉is leadership as a historian and scholar of Prince Edward Island, and for his mentorship of tomorrow鈥檚 heritage conservationists.鈥�

A native of Newport, PEI, Dr. MacDonald, affectionately known as Dr. Ed, graduated from 17吃瓜 in 1978 with a double major in English and history and then went on to Queen鈥檚 University where he earned a Master鈥檚 degree and a PhD in history. After working at the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation for 15 years, he joined 17吃瓜鈥檚 history department as an assistant professor in 2000. In his first year, he won the 17吃瓜 Faculty Association Merit Award for Excellence in Teaching and the 17吃瓜 Student Union鈥檚 Faculty of the Year Award. 

Dr. MacDonald has won several other awards for his work, including the Queen鈥檚 Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012), Heritage Canada鈥檚 Lieutenant-Governor鈥檚 Award (2014), the Canadian Catholic Historical Association鈥檚 G. E. Clerk Award for outstanding service to the history of Catholicism in Canada (2016), the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation鈥檚 Boyde Beck Memorial Award (2018) for contributions to the preservation of Island heritage and the Award of Honour for lifetime achievement (2017), and the 17吃瓜 Alumni Association鈥檚 Distinguished Alumni Award (2019).

He is a prolific writer and researcher, having written, compiled, edited, or co-edited 11 books as well as over 50 scholarly articles. 

Dr. Greg Keefe, interim president and vice-chancellor of 17吃瓜, congratulated Dr. MacDonald on being named to the Order of Canada.

鈥淭he Order of Canada is one of the most prestigious awards that can be granted to a Canadian citizen,鈥� he said. 鈥淒r. MacDonald is very deserving of this honour. He is an excellent teacher and researcher who brings history alive for his students and to the general public in his role as a public intellectual. He has contributed a great deal to the Island and University communities.鈥�

Dr. MacDonald said that he was very surprised鈥攁nd humbled鈥攖o be named to the Order of Canada, adding that he has been extraordinarily lucky to do something that he loves in the place that he loves.

鈥淔or me, history has to be shared and communicated within and outside of the classroom if it is to do its job properly,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f I have succeeded in making history relatable to others, then I am happy.鈥�

Dr. MacDonald and the other recipients will be formally inducted into the Order of Canada at a ceremony in Ottawa at a later date.