Those also receiving the honour — author Rohinton Mistry, U of T president Meric Gertler and philantrophist Helen Vari — will be presented with insignia later this year.
Some 69 Canadians are to be honoured this year with one of the country’s highest accolades — an appointment to the Order of Canada. They join more than 6,000 remarkable people honoured since 1967, including author Margaret Atwood, singer Leonard Cohen and humanitarian Terry Fox. Here’s a look at a few of this year’s Toronto additions.
Rohinton Mistry
Member of the Order of Canada
This author may be Canadian, but when he puts pen to paper, he often pays homage to his birthplace, India. His short stories, Tales from Firozsha Baag, and novels — Such a Long Journey, A Fine Balance and Family Matters — have been lauded by many and bestowed with accolades such as a Governor General’s Award, a Giller Prize and a Man Booker International Prize nomination.
Fun fact: Mistry’s A Fine Balance was Oprah’s Book Club choice in November 2001. In a review, Oprah said, “I’ve never encountered pages that took me so far, and removed me from my own way of life and way of thinking the way A Fine Balance did.”