Reelworld Screen Institute founder Tonya Williams has been appointed to the Order of Canada.

Williams (pictured) is one of 83 appointees, announced on Monday (June 30). She has been appointed as an officer, the second of three levels – the other two being companion and member. The distinction “recognizes achievement and merit of a high degree,” according to the Governor General’s website.

Williams began her career as an actor in the late 1970s and is known for her 19-year run on The Young and the Restless. Her other credits include Hill Street Blues and Street Legal. She founded the Reelworld Film Festival in 2000 and later expanded it with the Reelworld Foundation. The organization was renamed as the Reelworld Screen Institute in 2023.

“[The honour] represents the totality of my journey, one that started in an industry where I rarely saw myself reflected. From those early moments on Canadian television, to my time in the U.S., and through building Reelworld, I’ve always been guided by the belief that there is power in inclusion. It has been my joy to blend my passion for the work with my passion for seeing more diversity on our screens,” said Williams in a statement.

“I carry my pride as a Canadian Black woman into everything I do, always striving to shine a positive light on my community wherever I go. I share this honour with every artist, every advocate and every underrepresented voice who continues to push this country forward,” she continued.

In June, Williams was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame in Toronto. In January, she was recognized by the Toronto Film Critics Association with the Luminary Award, which honours a Canadian industry figure who has made significant contributions to Canadian cinema.

Greg Wells, a Winterton, N.L. and L.A.-based record producer, songwriter, mix engineer and multi-instrumentalist, was named as a member to the Order of Canada. Being named a member recognizes service in or to a particular community, group or field of activity.

Wells’ screen contributions include producing all songs in Wicked and its upcoming sequel Wicked: For Good, as well as producing and mixing the soundtrack for 2018’s The Greatest Showman.

In December 2024, media executive Randy Lennox, actor and director Fabienne Colas and actor Ryan Reynolds were appointed to the Order of Canada.

Photo by Alan Weissman