Lois M. Wilson

Lois Wilson

"The Very Rev. Lois M. Wilson, O.C has been named the recipient of the 1985 Pearson Peace Medal. The medal was established seven years ago by the United Nations Association in Canada to honour, in Lester B. Pearson’s name, Canadians who have made an outstanding contribution to international understanding and cooperation. The selection of the Pearson Medallist is made each year by a jury of eminent Canadians.

"The Very Rev. Lois M. Wilson has been a United Church minister since 1965. She has received several honorary doctorates and is the author of many publications. She was the first woman to be President of the Canadian Council of Churches (1976-1979) as well as the first woman to be Moderator of the United Church of Canada (1980-1982). She is also the fist Canadian to be the President of the World Council of Churches (1983-1990). She was present at the UN Special Sessions on Disarmament in 1978 and 1982, and was the United Church delegate to the UN Conference on Human Settlement in 1976. She received the Order of Canada in 1984."

"For three decades Lois Wilson has traveled widely and worked on global issues with partners in Asia, Latin America, India, the Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. She was appointed by Prime as a board member of the Canadian Institute for Peace and Security and served as Canada’s Special Envoy to the Sudan from 1999-2002. She was a member of the Panel to Assess the Environmental Impact of Disposal of Nuclear Waste and of the Refugee Status Advisory Committee. She worked as Chair of the International affairs Committee of the World Council of Churches from 1983-1990 and was a founding member of the Canadian Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights.

"Ms. Wilson was awarded honorary degrees from twelve Canadian and American Universities, as well as the United Nations (Canada) Pearson Peace Medal and the World Federalist Peace Prize. She was made a Companion of the Order of Canada in 2003, the highest civilian honor Canada has to offer.

"Lois Wilson is an ordained minister and author of six books as well as a Canadian Independent Senator. She serves as a moderator of the United Church of Canada, and as President of both the Canadian and World Council of Churches. She is a former President of WFM – Canada. Married to the Rev. Dr. Roy F. Wilson, she has four children and twelve grandchildren. She lives in Ottawa.

"Lois Wilson is currently serving as the Acting President of World Federalist Movement."