Member of the Order of Canada

• Awarded on: April 17, 2026

Philip David Boothe Akin, C.M.
Toronto, Ontario

Philip Akin, a trailblazing actor, director and cultural force, has shaped stage and screen for more than 50 years. At a time when there were few Black performers on Canadian television, he inspired many. Notably, he co-founded Obsidian Theatre, through which he championed Black artists and reshaped Canada’s theatrical landscape for future generations.