Guelph author Eric Walters named to Order of Canada

Guelph author Eric Robert Walters has been named to the Order of Canada.

Walters writes books for young adults and has won more than 100 awards including the 2008 National Outdoor Book Award for his novel The Pole; the Red Maple Award for his books Rebound, Safe as Houses, We All Fall Down and The Rule of Three as well as several CBC Choice Awards.

• CBC BOOKS: 100 Young Adult Books

A former teacher and social worker, Walters has written 95 novels and picture books and also started Creation of Hope with his wife Anita. The charity helps Canadian students help orphans in the Mbooni Region in Kenya.

Walters was named a member of the Order of Canada Friday morning during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.

Desire, passion for Canada

"Each recipient, in his or her own unique way, built a better country. And each of these pioneers was forward-looking. They knew that what they had done was only the beginning of what needed to be done," Governor General David Johnston told the recipients of Canadians who have been named to the order.

"Each of you is drawn to helping make this country better through common cause. It's one of the things that unite all Order of Canada recipients, no matter what your specific area of expertise is," Johnston said. "You have shown your desire, your passion, for Canada throughout your lives. I can't wait to see where that desire, that drive, takes you next."