One of the country's highest civilian honours will be awarded to Neil Turok, director of the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo.

On Friday, Turok was appointed an honorary officer of the Order of Canada.

"I am both incredibly surprised and very honoured to be named to the Order of Canada, even though I am not yet a citizen," he said in an email.

The award recognizes Turok's "substantial contributions as a scientist to the field of theoretical physics and cosmology, providing new models that test fundamental theories of the universe," the Governor General's office said in a news release.

"This never could have happened without the teamwork and support of many people," Turok said.

"We are pursuing a powerful ideal together — to discover new truths about nature, to enable brilliant young scientists to blossom, and to share with everyone the wonder and hope that science brings," he said. "Canada is a special place to pursue science, internationalism and a brighter future for the world." Read more