GENERAL:

Lisa LaFlamme, chief anchor and senior editor of CTV National News, is among 26 people being appointed to the Order of Ontario. LaFlamme is being honoured for her work promoting human rights and improving access to education for Afghan women. Helga Stephenson is also among this year’s appointees. Stephenson, who most recently was CEO of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, was previously executive director of Toronto’s Festival of Festivals, now known as TIFF. Her time as director has been widely credited with securing TIFF’s reputation as one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals. Stephenson was also involved in establishing the Canada Committee of Human Rights Watch and the annual Human Rights Watch Film Festival.

SOCAN has launched a new merchandise campaign Music ♥‘s Everybody, with all proceeds going to the Unison Benevolent Fund, a non-profit charity that provides counselling and emergency relief services to the Canadian music community. The e-commerce site was launched Monday with SOCAN members Hannah Georgas, Samito, Classified and Ria Mae modelling hoodies and t-shirts in support of the fund.

Ontario journalists who have produced outstanding nursing and health-care stories over the past year are invited to nominate them for the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario’s (RNAO) 2016 Media Awards. The annual competition recognizes reporters, editors and producers that keep the public informed and contribute to public dialogue on important healthcare issues. Past winners include journalists from CBC Radio, Maclean’s, and Global News. Nominations must be received no later than Jan. 20.