Officer of the Order of Canada
Wajdi Mouawad, O.C.
Montréal, Quebec
Writer, actor, stage director and playwright, Wajdi Mouawad is known for the quality of his theatrical creations and the power of his words. Inspired by his own experiences as a refugee fleeing the war in Lebanon, his plays deal mainly with personal identity and the tragedy of lives crushed by revenge, but also propose a reconciliatory approach. His works, including Tideline and Scorched, have been translated into several languages and performed around the world, earning him numerous awards and honours. Former director of Théâtre de Quat’Sous in Montréal, he continues to distinguish himself as artistic director of French theatre at the National Arts Centre.
