Literary Awards
- 2011
The Gutenberg Galaxy Award for Literature
- 2010
Manhae Grand Prize for Literature
- 2008
Pablo Neruda International Presidential Medal of Honour
- 1998
The Gordon Montador Award for Reflections of a SiameseTwin, for the best Canadian non-fiction book on contemporary social issues, published in 1997
- 1996
The Governor General's Literary Award for Non-fiction for The Unconscious Civilization, the unanimous choice of the jury The Gordon Montador Award for The Unconscious Civilization for the best Canadian non-fiction book on contemporary social issues, published in 1995
- 1990
Premio Letterario Internazionale, in Modena, Italy for The Paradise Eater, published in Italy as II paradiso spezzato.
Honours
- 2011
Writers' Union of Canada's Freedom to Read Award
- 2002
The Tony Aspler Award of Excellence for contributions to the Ontario Wine Industry
- 2001
Canadian Teachers Federation Public Advocacy Award
- 1999
Named Companion in The Order of Canada
- 1996
Named Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres de France Bob Edwards Award
- 1995
Massey Conference of 1995 (The Unconscious Civilization, House of Anansi Press & CBC Radio, 1995)
The Utne Reader's "100 Visionaries of the World"
Honourary Doctorates
- 2011
D. Letters, Memorial University of Newfoundland
- 2011
Docteur ès lettres (honoris causa), Université de Moncton
- 2011
Honoris causa, Nipissing University
- 2004
D. Laws, University of Ottawa
- 2003
D. Laws, University of Calgary
Honoris Causa, Herzen State Pedagogical University St. Petersburg (Russia)
D. Laws, Mount Allison University
D. Laws, St.Francis Xavier University
D. Laws, Queen's University
D. Laws, Laurentian University
- 2002
Honoris causa, Universite du Quebec a Montreal
D. Laws, University of Manitoba
- 2001
D. Laws, McMaster University
- 1999
D. Laws, Simon Fraser University
- 1999
D. Letters, University of Western Ontario
- 1997
D. Letters, McGill University
D. Letters, University of Victoria
