Member of the Order of Canada
Awarded on: 2019-11-22
Invested on: 2022-11-17
Eric D. Friesen, C.M.
Toronto and Ottawa, Ontario
With his legendary voice and on-air charisma, Eric Friesen has supported and celebrated Canadian artists for decades. As a former executive of CBC Radio and long-time radio broadcaster, he renewed his listeners’ appreciation for and understanding of classical music as the host of numerous classical and cultural radio programs, such as Studio Sparks and In Performance, which featured Canadian musicians, songwriters and composers. The talented writer, sought-after speaker and interviewer remains active in the arts community and serves a wide variety of cultural organizations.