ONTARIO, Sept 12: Mr Azhar Ali Khan, a Canadian of Pakistan origin, is among the 29 who have been awarded Ontario’s highest award, the Order of Ontario. The other Muslim among the 29 is Dr Tyser Aboulnasr, the first Muslim woman to get such an award for her services in the field of education.

Mr Khan, who worked in Ottawa Citizen newspaper for two and a half decades, later started a multi-faith working group to work for understanding among Canada’s different communities. He also served as president of the Ottawa Muslim Association and worked as director of multiculturalism in the Citizens’ Forum of Canada.

He was appointed a member of the Immigration and Refugee Board after parliamentary approval and received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and the Canadian government’s award for outstanding work on behalf of the Ottawa Muslim Association.

The Order of Ontario is given to recognize “the highest level of individual excellence and achievement in any field,” according to a press release.