“I have received all kinds of recognition along the way and always it has been a surprise, but this one was kind of a shock,” said Letson, 74. “It is not something I expected. Not at all.”
Letson was one of 90 new appointments to the Order of Canada made by Governor General David Johnston as 2013 came to an end. He was made a Member of the Order of Canada, joining recently retired Winnipeg Archbishop James Weisgerber, who was appointed an Officer of the order the same day.
During the years the former — and first — lay president of Waterloo, Ont.'s St. Jerome's University has picked up the University of Waterloo's Distinguished Teaching Award, an honorary doctor of law degree from the same university and a Queen's Jubilee Medal among many other recognitions.
Later this year Letson is to receive the award's hardware — a medal and certificate — during one of three investiture ceremonies which are still to be scheduled.
“I have no idea who made the recommendation,” he said. “Obviously what I have done has been appreciated by others or this wouldn't have happened. And I'd like to think that I can make a contribution still.”
Aside from his time at St. Jerome's, Letson has volunteered on a number of boards including 16 years as chair of St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, a decade as president of the Walter Bean Grand River Community Trails Foundation and chair of the Kid's Ability Foundation, where he continues to sit.
One of the achievements he's most proud of came during his time with St. Joseph's while reviewing the health care system's mission, vision and value statement.
“One of the things that I said was that people on the board don't seem to understand what poor and marginalized is all about so far as Catholic teaching is concerned,” said Letson, who organized a retreat for board members to address that. “It was an eye opener for a lot of people on how we can and do serve the marginalized. As a result every year each of the segments of the St. Joe's Healthcare System have to give a report to the board on just how they do that.
“That is one of the things that I feel good about.”
And while the numerous recognitions, awards and distinctions are things Letson is proud of — they do decorate the walls of his study — the countless hours he's volunteered were never done with the intention of receiving even a thank you.
“I always felt that life is difficult and that we all have an obligation to do what we can with the talents that we've got to assist others,” he said. “That's really why I've been involved the way I have been. A lot of it is social justice stuff.”
Letson cannot help but admit that having the spotlight on him from his Order of Canada has been a nice source of warmth during the bitter cold winter which has struck southern Ontario.
“It has been satisfying, it has been flattering and it has been surprising.”