Distinguished Waterloo researcher named to Order of Canada

An award-winning researcher from the University of Waterloo whose work in the field of statistics has helped inform public policy for more than two decades was named an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Dr. Mary Thompson, Distinguished Professor Emerita in the Faculty of Mathematics at Waterloo, joins 60 other Canadians included in the list of honourees. The recipients were just announced by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Louise Arbour, Governor General of Canada.

Dr. Mary Thompson was named an Officer of the Order of Canada (University of Waterloo).

She joined the University in the fall of 1969, where she taught probability and statistics in the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science. An expert in survey methodology and longitudinal studies, Thompson’s expertise informs the gathering and analysis of complex survey data. A proponent of collaboration between statisticians and researchers in other scientific fields, Thompson has contributed her expertise to work examining disease spread and environmental factors linked to smoking. She has led survey design for the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project since 2002. Based in Waterloo’s Department of Psychology, the ITC Project evaluates the effectiveness of tobacco control policies worldwide.

"I feel deeply honoured by this recognition, and grateful for the opportunities to serve that have made it possible,” Thompson said. “It has been a great privilege to be involved in academic pursuits and public policy research here at the University of Waterloo, and in service to the profession across Canada. My profound thanks to the many students and co-workers who have been part of this shared journey.”

A former chair of her department and acting dean of the Faculty, Thompson also served as the founding chair of the Women in Mathematics committee at Waterloo. She says she has tried to make sure policies and practices are fair to those impacted regardless of gender identity, and advocates consideration of women and other groups not well represented for positions and honours. Thompson was also the first Scientific Director of the Canadian Statistical Sciences Institute, which she co-founded.

“The remarkable contributions that Dr. Thompson has made to survey methodology have significantly advanced the way scientists study populations,” said Dr. Charmaine Dean, Vice-President, Research & International and a fellow statistician. “She embodies Waterloo’s commitment to collaborating across disciplines to solve some of the world’s greatest challenges, and it is my great pleasure to congratulate my colleague on this tremendous honour.”

The Order of Canada is one of this country’s highest civilian honours. An investiture ceremony will be scheduled at a later date.

(Photo credit for banner image: Sgt. Johanie Maheu, Rideau Hall, OSGG 2017.)