Jennings accepted Oder of Canada

[metis]

Jennings accepted Order of Canada in his final days
Prominent news anchor 'tickled' to receive honour
Thu Aug 11 2005
By Aron Heller


OTTAWA -- A day after his 67th birthday, and eight days before he died, Peter Jennings found out he would be awarded the Order of Canada, the nation's highest honour.
The nomination process began long before Jennings, anchor of ABC's World News Tonight, revealed April 5 that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer. The decision was made June 29 at the last meeting of the advisory committee to the Order of Canada, chaired by the chief justice of Canada.
--
The Order of Canada can not be awarded posthumously. Jennings's children, Elizabeth and Christopher, both Canadian citizens, are expected to accept the award on his behalf at a future investiture ceremony. "It was awarded just in the nick of time, and thank goodness for it," said Sarah, as tears suddenly appeared in her eyes. "He never got the pleasure of it, unfortunately. I think he knew he got it. He was happy he got it, but it would have been more fun if he had a few years more to enjoy it."
--
Jennings has been cremated, according to his sister, with his ashes to be split between his two most private places: his home in Long Island, N.Y., and his summer home in the Gatineau Hills in Quebec.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/canadaworld/story/2965642p-3436978c.html

subscription needed

[gman16]

1. The special last night

was very well done, until they had Powel and Rice comment on Jennings.
I remember doing some work at ABC studios in NY, and I was standing in front of one of the cameras in the World News Tonight set. I heard a voice say "excuse me", I turned around and Jennings was sitting at his "anchor chair". "what is your name", he asked. I told him and he very kindly said well gary, I'm about to go on the air and it wouldn't go over very well if I was standing between him and the camera.
My Jennings moment.

[ailsagirl]

2. I shall miss him. One of the few anchors who had some dignity

and intelligence. Of course he was born and raised in Canada--
it showed.