Member of the Order of Canada
Awarded on: 2016-11-18
Deborah Ellis, C.M., O.Ont.
Simcoe, Ontario
Deborah Ellis is an acclaimed young adult author. Trained as a mental health counsellor, she worked for many years at a group home for women before taking up writing full-time. She has published dozens of books, including the Breadwinner series on the lives of Afghan refugees. She envisions her work as an outlet for the voiceless, and travels to interview the youth who form the basis of her characters. Her books have sold millions of copies, but she retains only a small portion of the profits, preferring to donate all royalties to help the people who shape her stories.