"It's certainly different from my Stanley Cup rings, and I look forward to wearing it on special occasions," Bowman told reporters after the ceremony at Ottawa's Rideau Hall in which he received the red-and-white medallion from Governor General David Johnston.

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

William Scott "Scotty" Bowman, OC (born September 18, 1933) is a retired National Hockey League head coach. He holds the record for most wins in league history, with 1,244 wins in the regular season and 223 in the Stanley Cup playoffs. He coached the St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Detroit Red Wings. He is currently the Senior Advisor of Hockey Operations for the Chicago Blackhawks. Bowman is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in history, in any sport.

As head coach, Bowman has won a record nine Stanley Cups with the Canadiens (1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979), Penguins (1992) and Red Wings (1997, 1998, and 2002). He has also won three Stanley Cups as a member of an organization's front office. He was director of player development for the 1991 Penguins, Consultant with the 2008 Detroit Red Wings, and Senior Advisor of Hockey Operations for the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks. Bowman won the Jack Adams Award in 1977 and 1996. In the 1976–77 season he won a record 60 games, breaking his own record of 58 wins the year before. He broke his own record again in the 1995-1996 season, with 62 wins. His 8 losses in 1976-77 are a modern record. His teams also made it to the Stanley Cup Finals a record 13 times and the semi-finals a record 16 times.