Stratford’s Diane Sims (CM) reflects on Order of Canada investiture ceremony at Rideau Hall

Back home in Stratford, Diane Sims (CM) proudly shows off her Order of Canada medal.

After finding out she had been named a member of the Order of Canada late last year, Stratford journalist, author and advocate Diane Sims (CM) officially received her medal from Governor General Mary Simon at Rideau Hall during the official investiture ceremony on June 25.

Sims, who is living with end-stage multiple sclerosis (MS), uses a motorized scooter to get around and has been approved for medical assistance in dying (MAiD), has been a staunch advocate both for accessibility on a local level here in Stratford and nationally for MAiD, having recently been appointed an honorary champion for Bridge C-14, an organization that provides peer-to-peer support for Canadians, their caregivers and their loved ones before, during and after MAiD.

On top of her work in journalism, which includes her fearless piece, “How I Plan To Die,” published in Maclean’s Magazine in June 2023, Sims has also written several books, most recently her unflinching memoir, Living Beyond the Shadow, which she released late last year.

For Sims, the trip to Ottawa wasn’t as simple as it was for some of the other Order of Canada honourees who joined her at Rideau Hall. She was accompanied by her husband, Dennis Thomas, as well as her personal support worker who helps her daily at home in Stratford.

“We got to Ottawa on June 23 and they paid for my support worker; they flew her down,” Sims said. “ … we needed a double bed for my ceiling lift, but I needed the accessible washroom for makeup and brushing my teeth and all of that. So, they had connecting rooms; my support worker stayed in the accessible room – we kept the connecting door open – and I (slept in the adjoining room).

“When Rideau Hall is paying the bill, they take excellent care. The general manager (of the Four Points Sheraton in Gatineau) saw me every day, asked what we needed and … she was just excellent with us.”

The day of the ceremony itself was a long one. With rehearsal scheduled for 9:30 a.m., Sims and her support worker had to begin her morning routine at 4:30 a.m., but it was all worth it as she and Thomas drove across the Alexander Bridge from Gatineau into Ottawa and approached Rideau Hall.

“All we had to do was go over the bridge, turn left on Sussex and take a beautiful little drive down Sussex,” Sims said. “The gates to Rideau Hall were open and the guards were at the gate checking off our names. It felt wonderful looking at all the trees that had been planted and the lovely gardens. They had a nice, accessible spot for us very close to the door and there’s a ramp going in. We were met by the events coordinator and ushered into a waiting room.”

After each of the honourees had a chance to learn their cues and find their marks at the front of the ceremonial hall, the investiture ceremony began in earnest and Sims had the moment she had been waiting for since last fall.

“The ceremony started at 11 a.m. and we were waiting in the Tent Room, which is a beautiful room and the ceiling is like a tent, red and white,” Sims said. “That’s also the luncheon room and I think that’s where they have dinners. The ceremony started and the governor general made some opening remarks, and then the Rideau Hall officiant who was reading the citations began calling names. I went up and I bowed before (Simon) and I winked at her, and she smiled at me. Then I went over to the other (mark on the floor) and they read my citation, which was very humbling.

“Then back to in front of the governor general, and that’s where she pinned (my medal) on me. It’s beautiful. Pictures don’t do it justice because the intricacy of the work is beautiful. It felt unbelievable, just unbelievable, because I felt I didn’t deserve it. It was so humbling, but I felt like this was out of this world.”

Following the ceremony, the honourees were taken back into the Tent Room for the luncheon. When lunch was served, there was a minor mix-up for Sims as she was served a plate of vegetables, none of which are included in the very limited diet she is able to eat. Sims said she told Rideau Hall staff about the mix-up; they apologized profusely and then the chef came out personally to figure out what he could prepare for her.

“(The events coordinator) brought the head chef back to me and he said, ‘What can I make for you?’ … He made me shrimp and scallops on rice with a nice spicey sauce because he said to me, ‘I understand you like spice,’ so they obviously pulled up my record. I had some cooked beets, which I can have, and some pieces of parmesan cheese. When he brought the plate to me, he said this parmesan cheese is from Monforte (Dairy), which is near Stratford,” Sims laughed.

“And I said, ‘I know Ruth (the owner),’ and he started laughing. While I’m up at Rideau Hall, there I am eating Monforte cheese.”

Sims said she enjoyed her lunch so much, she asked for more and ended up being so full, she passed on the beautiful array of cakes and other desserts available to her and her fellow honourees.

After lunch, Sims said the honourees had an opportunity to chat with one another and pose for photos with each other and the governor general. While posing for a photo with Simon, Sims said she gave the governor general a copy of Living Beyond the Shadow, which Simon promised to read in its entirety.

And Sims’ day didn’t end there. After a few hours of rest back at the hotel, Sims and Thomas celebrated with friends and supporters at a book-launch event at Perfect Books on Elgin Street.

The event was her first opportunity to wear her Order of Canada medal after it was presented to her, and she said she enjoyed every minute of it.