Mr. Michael Ondaatje

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Order of Canada

Officer of the Order of Canada
Awarded on: 1988-07-11
Invested on: 1988-11-08
One of Canada's most successful experimental writers, his work blends the factual and the imaginary in poetry and prose and is extraordinarily visual, which accounts for his interest in film as a complement to literature. But he is first and foremost a poet whose talent is recognized throughout the English-speaking world.
Companion of the Order of Canada
Awarded on: 2016-11-18
Invested on: 2017-08-25
Michael Ondaatje continues to be one of Canada’s most treasured and celebrated contemporary authors. A poet, novelist and editor, he has published well-regarded collections of poetry and several critically acclaimed novels, including Anil’s Ghost and The English Patient, which was later made into an award-winning film. His international stature has brought attention to Canadian literature and helped raise its profile worldwide. He serves as an exemplary role model, and his ongoing support and editorial work within the literary community have had a profound influence on aspiring Canadian authors. This is a promotion within the Order.