Officer of the Order of Canada

• Awarded on: October 23, 1997
• Invested on: February 04, 1998

She is a leading figure in the Canadian academic world whose scholarship in comparative literature is internationally respected. One of the first to provide critical analysis and widespread recognition of Quebec poets, she was also the first woman to serve as a university president in Ontario. Her mentorship of students has helped to broaden their opportunities in higher education through collaborative research, study and dialogue. She has served in a number of professional organizations and held executive positions in many, including the current presidency of the International Federation for Modern Languages and Literatures.