Companion of the Order of Canada
Awarded on: 2000-11-15
Invested on: 2001-12-19
He has helped secure Canada's place on the international literary stage. His characters speak of struggle and triumph; his stories bring St. Urbain and Crescent Street to the world. Colourful and sometimes controversial, he is one of Canada's foremost satirists, well known for his essays and columns. His novels and works of non-fiction have come to form part of our nation's cultural heritage and many have been recognized with honours, including two Governor General's Literary Awards and the Commonwealth Writers Award.