Don Cherry receives Order of Canada nomination from MP Andrew Lawton

Fresh off the announcement that he has been named to the Order of Ontario , 92-year-old hockey commentator Don Cherry might soon have an even bigger feather in his cap — the Order of Canada.

Andrew Lawton, the Conservative Member of Parliament for the Ontario riding of Elgin–St. Thomas–London South, has announced that he is nominating Cherry for the national accolade.

“For decades, Don Cherry has celebrated hockey, honoured veterans, and said what millions think — without apology,” Lawton said in making the announcement on social media. “I want to show the Governor General how many Canadians support Grapes. Sign if you do.” (Grapes is Cherry’s nickname.)

For decades, Don Cherry has celebrated hockey, honoured veterans, and said what millions think — without apology. I am nominating Don Cherry for the Order of Canada. I want to show the Governor General how many Canadians support Grapes. Sign if you do! https://t.co/wOfgbtCxO0

— Andrew Lawton (@AndrewLawton) March 5, 2026

The post links to a Conservative Party of Canada webpage that allows people to add their names to the nomination.

It reads: “Whereas Don Cherry has made significant contributions to Canadian sport and culture as a hockey player, coach, and longtime broadcaster;

“Whereas Don Cherry has championed grassroots hockey, supported Canada’s service members and veterans, and helped strengthen the connection many Canadians feel to the game of hockey and to one another;

“Whereas Don Cherry’s candid and unapologetic style reflects a spirit of authenticity and independence that resonated with millions of Canadians.

“Therefore, we the undersigned, nominate Don Cherry to be appointed to the Order of Canada in recognition of his lasting contributions to Canadian sport and national life.”

The news comes on the same day that Ontario Premier Doug Ford posted to social media that he had paid a visit to Cherry to congratulate him on the Order of Ontario, which will be bestowed at a ceremony in Toronto this year. Cherry was one of 30 new recipients to the Order, which dates back to 1986 and now includes 933 members.

I was thrilled to stop by and congratulate Don Cherry in person on his appointment to the Order of Ontario.Don is a great Canadian patriot and a champion for our country, our province and the game of hockey. Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/wuXvPvVBE8

— Doug Ford (@fordnation) March 5, 2026

“You’re an icon to millions of Ontarians, but Canadians as well,” Ford says to Cherry in a post to X backed by a montage of clips of Cherry’s career. “No one’s more deserving in this country than you. You’re the most patriotic person I’ve ever met.”

Lawton’s is not the first call for Cherry to be given the Order of Canada. A petition with more than 12,000 signatures can be found on the conservative website  StrongandProud.ca .

In 2004, Cherry placed seventh in CBC TV’s The Greatest Canadian , behind Tommy Douglas, Terry Fox, Pierre Trudeau, Frederick Banting, David Suzuki and Lester B. Pearson. All those on the list ahead of him (except Banting, who died before the award was created in 1967) already had received an Order of Canada, as have fellow sports broadcasters Scott Oake, Colleen Jones, Foster Hewitt and Brian McFarlane.

Nominations to the Order of Canada can be made by anyone, for anyone , as long as they are still living and are not an elected official or judge still in office. There is no deadline. Appointees are announced twice a year by the Governor General, with the most recent batch bringing the total number of recipients to more than 8,250.

Before being elected in 2025, Lawton was also a broadcaster as well as a journalist, author, and the managing editor of True North, a Calgary-based conservative media outlet that now operates as Juno News . Lawton has also hosted a daily talk radio show on 980 CFPL in London, Ont., and has written for National Post.

• Don Cherry, one of the greatest Canadians in the nation's history — for a time
• Don Cherry named to the Order of Ontario. Could an Order of Canada be next?

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