Member of the Order of Canada

• Awarded on: May 7, 2015
• Invested on: September 23, 2015

For his contributions to the teaching of Canadian history as an author, educator and administrator.

John Ricker transformed how Canadian history was taught in the second half of the 20th century. Building on his experiences as a secondary school teacher, he wrote or edited more than a dozen school textbooks that engaged students by combining up-to-date scholarship content with an entertaining style. Notably, How Are We Governed? has become a classic text. Also a beloved mentor, he went on to become dean of the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Education, where he contributed to the development of generations of Ontario teachers.