Officer of the Order of Canada
Awarded on: 2006-10-05
Invested on: 2007-10-26
For more than 50 years, Peter Desbarats has been a leading figure in Canadian journalism. In both print and broadcast media, he has reported extensively on the political affairs of our nation. Former dean of the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of Western Ontario, he has developed standards of practice in his field and is often consulted on media ethics. He is also an author, having written non-fiction books, including an early biography of Quebec Premier René Lévesque, plays and children's books. As well, he has actively supported the Canadian Journalism Foundation, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and the London Arts Council