Member of the Order of Canada

• Awarded on: April 27, 2000
• Invested on: November 16, 2000

He is a major force in the promotion of literature in Canada. Founder and Director of the International Festival of Authors and Artistic Director of the Harbourfront Reading Series, he has helped countless Canadian authors gain access to a broader audience and has introduced Canadians to some of the world's best writers. A poet and editor himself, he has played a key role in establishing literary readings as important and popular cultural events.