Officer of the Order of Canada

• Awarded on: April 27, 2000
• Invested on: February 28, 2001

He is an author of distinction whose works have been critically acclaimed across the country. Unique in their style, his novels explore the lives of people from various ethnic and religious backgrounds. Through his characters, who often live on the periphery of society, he takes the reader on a journey that is both fascinating and telling. He is also a Professor Emeritus at the University of Alberta and was the Founding President of the Writers Guild of Alberta.