Member of the Order of Canada

• Awarded on: October 25, 2007
• Invested on: December 12, 2008

Countless children have begun the great journey with words thanks to the efforts of Valerie Hussey. In the late 1970s, she took over Kids Can Press and gradually turned it into the largest Canadian-owned publisher of fiction and non-fiction books for children. She focused on Canadian authors and illustrators, helping individuals to hone their craft and bringing their names and stories to international attention. She is also a committed volunteer who has worked with industry and non-profit organizations such as the Canadian Children's Book Centre, the Canadian Women's Foundation, the Tides Foundation and Women's College Hospital.