• Deceased
• Los Angeles, California, United States of America

Order of Canada

• Officer of the Order of Canada

  • Awarded on: April 19, 1991
  • Invested on: October 30, 1991

  Poet, singer-songwriter and novelist, he is one of the most popular and influential writers of his generation whose work has been critically acclaimed throughout the world and has made Canadian literature familiar to readers abroad. Images of beauty, despair, outrage and tenderness are found in his lyrical poetry and prose, whose themes of love, loss and loneliness touch a universal chord in us all.

• Companion of the Order of Canada

  • Awarded on: October 10, 2002
  • Invested on: October 24, 2003

  Known for his striking imagery and evocative descriptions of the human condition, Leonard Cohen has the distinction of creating a body of work that has remained contemporary and significant through three decades of shifting musical and aesthetic tastes. His 1992 album, The Future, introduced his poetic style to a new generation of listeners. In 2001, he released his 12th album, Ten New Songs. It soared to the top of the charts, reaching gold and platinum sales in Canada and in several other countries. His continued popularity confirms his status as a Canadian icon and a venerated dean of the pop culture movement. This is a promotion within the Order.