Member of the Order of Canada

• Awarded on: October 18, 2001
• Invested on: August 31, 2002

At the age of three, he began performing as one of the "Three Raes of Sunshine", touring the North American vaudeville circuits. As a teenager, he was already a seasoned veteran of the stage. After serving his country as a pilot in World War II, he returned home a decorated hero and resumed his career as a producer with the CBC at the vanguard of the television era. In the years that followed, he produced scores of programs including the popular Wayne and Shuster Show and returned to the spotlight as the singing host of his own series. Now retired, he brings the healing power of music to patients at Princess Margaret Hospital with regular performances of The Spitfire Band, a musical group he founded.