Michael J. Fox has been promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada, one of the country’s highest civilian honours, recognizing his decades of work advocating for Parkinson’s disease research.
The Edmonton-born actor received the honour at a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday. Fox was previously appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2010.
The latest honour recognizes Fox’s contributions to Parkinson’s advocacy and his efforts to advance research into the disease. After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s at age 29, Fox went public with his diagnosis in 1998 and founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in 2000.
The foundation has since become one of the largest nonprofit funders of Parkinson’s research, directing more than $3 billion toward research programs and initiatives. In a recent interview with People, he acknowledged that Parkinson’s has become more difficult to live with over the years while continuing to focus on research as a source of hope.
“We’re getting close,” Fox said of the possibility of finding a cure, adding that he is continuing to put his efforts toward advancing Parkinson’s research.
The actor has also spoken about the importance of accepting the realities of Parkinson’s without allowing the diagnosis to define his life. Fox stepped back from regular acting work in 2020 as the effects of Parkinson’s made performing more difficult, but he has continued to take occasional roles, including a recent appearance on Apple TV+’s Shrinking.
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