OTTAWA -- The best coach in hockey is now an officer in the Order of Canada.

The name William Scott Bowman echoed through Rideau Hall Friday as famed Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman accepted the honour from Gov. Gen. David Johnston. The formal crowd had trouble quelling their happy applause as the official white-and-red medallion was placed around his neck.

"It's certainly different from my Stanley Cup rings, and I look forward to wearing it on special occasions," Bowman told reporters. He says the honour made him reflect on his favourite memories. "The first Stanley Cup, as a coach, that's always a dream and I was very fortunate to go back to my home city of Montreal and my second year we won the cup, and probably the last one too, because I knew I wasn't going to coach anymore."

The Order of Canada is the highest honour that can be bestowed upon a Canadian, other than the Queen's Order of Merit.

Sun News viewers and readers have been clamouring for Don Cherry to receive the honour for his dedication to amateur and professional hockey, fierce patriotism and support of Canada's armed forces.

Bowman said he'd be happy to see Grapes join him.

"Sure I would, we became pretty friendly even though we were big rivals in the seventies," Bowman told reporters while wearing his medal. "I'm like the rest of the people in Canada, I enjoy watching him, but I kid him around and say: 'I enjoy watching you as long as you don't believe all of the stuff you say.'"

Former Liberal prime minister Paul Martin was named a Companion to the Order. Toronto Star columnist Gwynne Dyer was also honoured.

While a pediatrician, armed forces general and a steel engineer were named, most of the recipients were career lawyers, diplomats and artists. Their resumes have some wondering whether you have to be a specific type of person to be honoured.

"Gwynne Dyer fits the profile that the elitist snots that run the Order of Canada are looking for. Peter Worthington, on the other hand, helped found the Toronto Sun and a media chain that tells stories that everyday Canadians love to read, he doesn't fit their profile, he deserves to be in the Order of Canada," said Brian Lilley, host of Byline on Sun News Network. "Don Cherry has told me that he has been nominated but that he doesn't expect that he will get in because he has the wrong politics."

Worthington has reportedly been nominated for the honour, but not selected by the panel that picks the recipients. The panel includes Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin, Royal Society of Canada president Yolande Grisé and Stephen Toope, chair of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada.

They consider about 700 nominations per year.