Officer of the Order of Canada
Awarded on: 2018-11-19
Invested on: 2019-09-04
Jean Pelletier, O.C.
Rosemère, Quebec
Jean Pelletier dedicated his career to journalistic ethics. As the La Presse correspondent in Washington, D.C., he broke the story of the American diplomats who fled Iran in 1980. He rose through the ranks at Radio-Canada, from newsroom to director of public affairs. A pioneer of investigative journalism, he created several well-known programs, including “Enquête.” He also built bridges between Radio-Canada and the CBC by producing major documentaries, including the “Canada: A People’s History” and “8th Fire” series which left their mark on audiences across Canada.