01/05/2026
It is with deep respect and admiration that we congratulate Ian Ihnatowycz on being named to the Order of Canada, conferred by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Canadian society through philanthropic leadership and sustained support of initiatives in education, health care, and the arts.
For the Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre, Ian’s leadership and generosity have had a lasting and meaningful impact. As Co-Chair of the Home with a Heart Capital Campaign, his visionary leadership was instrumental in the establishment of the Michael and Sophia Witer Memory Care Unit (the 4th floor), as well as the construction of the building’s tower, which houses spacious on-floor dining rooms used daily for meals, activities, and social connection. What was created as a result of the “Home with a Heart” Capital Campaign (2004-2009) enables us, to this day, to proactively respond to a senior population whose care needs are increasingly complex and to remain at the forefront of the long-term care industry.
Ian’s commitment extended beyond the campaign. During the early and most uncertain days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when supplies of essential personal protective equipment were dangerously low, he and his wife, Dr. Marta Witer, stepped forward to help ensure that staff had the protection they needed—because, as Ian and Marta said, “it is important for us to know that the Care Centre’s staff will have the protection they need in order to continue to provide safe care to our seniors.”
Ian has often credited his parents’ values for guiding his approach to leadership. "My parents were representative of a generation that went through many hardships. That was a generation that took great pride in what they achieved together. It is important not only to succeed, but to contribute and make a difference,” he shared with us during the “Home with a Heart” Campaign.
It is deeply inspiring to see a business leader of such distinction place equal value on success and on service to others. Ian has made, and continues to make, a difference through his philanthropic passion, leadership, and service, benefiting Canadian society, the Ukrainian Canadian community, and Ukraine.
His example affirms that these enduring values continue to matter and exemplify the dedication and service recognized by the Order of Canada - one of Canada’s highest civilian honours.
We congratulate Ian Ihnatowycz once again on this well-deserved national honour and thank him for his enduring philanthropic leadership and generosity.
