Legendary Canadian stuntman and rancher John Scott is one of the 2025 recipients of Alberta’s highest civilian honour, the Alberta Order of Excellence. The award recognises Albertans whose sustained contributions have significantly shaped the province’s identity and future.

Scott, based near Longview in southern Alberta, built a remarkable career over more than five decades. Starting as a rodeo extra and horseback rider, he progressed to stunt-performer, animal wrangler, location scout, and producer. His first experience in film and television was as a stunt double for Dustin Hoffman in the 1970 film, Little Big Man. His sprawling 5,000-acre ranch has served as a filming location for major productions, and he has helped train actors like Brad Pitt and Jackie Chan in mounted scenes for movies Legends of the Fall and Shanghai Noon, shot at Scott’s ranch. He has been involved in seven Oscar-winning movies, and worked as a wrangler, stunt performer or stunt coordinator for many productions including The Lord of the Rings, The Revenant, and Heartland.

Scott has actively promoted Alberta as a world-class filming destination, pointing out that the movie-dollar spinoff is roughly five or six to one and supports hotels, lumber yards, rental cars, and ranch services across the province.

In accepting the honour, Scott said he viewed it as a tribute not only to his own work but to the many crews, actors, and ranch hands who helped bring Alberta’s film industry to the world stage.

Scott was awarded the Alberta Order of Excellence on October 16, 2025, in Edmonton, alongside eight other distinguished Albertans.