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���Ĵ�ý professor and Canada Research Chair in Intercultural Encounter Dr. Lauren Beck has received one of Spain’s distinguished civil honours in recognition of her contributions and service to Spain.

Beck was decorated with the Officer’s Cross of the Royal Order of Civil Merit during a ceremony held at the residence of Alfredo Martínez Serrano, Ambassador of Spain to Canada. The honour was conferred with documentation signed by His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain.

The Royal Order of Civil Merit, or Real Orden del Mérito Civil, is a Spanish order of merit established in 1926 by King Alfonso XIII. Awarded by the King of Spain, the Order recognizes civic merit, including distinguished service by Spanish and foreign citizens whose work benefits Spain or contributes to the public good.  

Beck was nominated by the Ambassador of Spain to Canada in recognition of her academic work in Hispanic Studies and her contributions to strengthening understanding of Spain, Spanish language, and Spanish-speaking communities in Canada.

Beck’s research explores Hispanic Studies, colonial histories, place names, and Indigenous and European encounters. Her work has made important contributions to understanding the history and presence of Spanish language and culture in Canada, including a recent book project described as the first of its kind on Spanish in Canada.

“There has never really been data available to write about this or to talk about its importance,” says Beck. “We have so much immigration to Canada from Latin America, and Spanish is actually the third most studied language here.”

Beck says her path into the field began as a Canadian student learning Spanish as a teenager and young adult before specializing in Spanish and colonial studies.

Her current research continues to challenge traditional narratives of European and Indigenous histories. While in Spain this summer for conferences and research, Beck is exploring Indigenous travel to Spain and Europe from the 1500s onward.

“We tend to look at history as being Europeans coming to America,” she says. “Well, Native folks came to Europe too, and they experienced integration and settling quite differently than the other way in America.”

Beck says the honour was both meaningful and unexpected. During the formal ceremony, she received the cross itself, a heavy medal worn as part of the decoration, as well as a smaller pin for less formal occasions.

For Beck, the moment was a significant recognition of years of research, teaching, and international scholarly collaboration. She will continue her research in Spain this summer before returning to Canada.