The CEO of Ottawa's Amika Mobile called the new award, which was given to Canadians demonstrating significant community service, a "surprise honour."
She was part of a group of Ontarians, who are past recipients of the Order of Ontario, receiving the queen's award at the invitation of Ontario Lt.-Gov. David Onley.
"I take any of these awards as recognition for me and my team in terms of our emphasis on public safety and security," Ms. Abu-Hakima said in an interview with OBJ.
The queen's award was distributed in honour of the 60th anniversary of Elizabeth II taking the throne.
Speaking on the morning after a fatal movie theatre shootout near Colorado, Ms. Abu-Hakima said that "unbelieveable" incident, coupled with a recent gunfight at the Eaton Centre, demonstrated the importance of having public safety systems such as what Amika Mobile produces.
Amika, whose emergency broadcasts can be put on platforms such as cell phones, is in negotiations with the City of Ottawa to implement the system at city hall. La Cite Collegiale is among local facilities that use Amika's technology.
"Globally, it is important, and certainly it would be great to get it in city hall in Ottawa," she said.
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