The recipients were scheduled to be presented with the insignia yesterday by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, James Bartleman, at a formal investiture ceremony at Queen's Park in Toronto.

Deemed the Canadian province's highest honour, the Order of Ontario recognises and honours residents "who have enriched the lives of others by attaining the highest standards of excellence and achievement in their respective fields". Members are entitled to use the initials O.Ont. after their names.

Dr Elliston, who hails from Mile Gully in Manchester, is an educator, researcher and consultant who, for more than 30 years, has been involved in teaching, professional development and training in schools. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English, History and Latin from the University of the West Indies, Master's degree in Education Psychology from Boston University and her doctorate in Adult Education from the University of Toronto.

She is one of the patrons of Women for PACE Canada (Project for the Advancement of Childhood Education), which has adopted more than 100 basic schools in Jamaica. She also represented the group at the Jamaican Diaspora Conference in Kingston last year.

Dr Elliston has represented the Canadian Council for Multicultural and Intercultural Education as delegate to the World Conference Against Racism, which took place in South Africa in 2001.

Lawrence is owner of Nurses and Home Healthcare Inc, a company she formed 20 years ago to provide healthcare services to homebound patients. In 2004, she was recognised as one of Canada's top 100 entrepreneurs.

Born in Ocho Rios, St Ann, Lawrence migrated to Canada in 1969. She is a trained registered nurse who received her nursing degree from the University of Toronto. She also studied business at York University in Toronto and Harvard University in Boston, and holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of New Hampshire.

A community volunteer, she has been chair of the board of governors of Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology, and chair of the Academic and Patient Care Committee of Sunnybrook Hospital, the largest hospital in Canada.

Lawrence is also involved with the newly-formed Operation Black Vote Canada, which focuses on education, representation and participation of Black Canadians in the political process.

Speaking with JIS News, both recipients said they felt humbled to be publicly recognised by the province of Ontario.

"It's a privilege to be among those named," said Dr Elliston. "I hope young people will realise that there is a reward for volunteerism," she added.