Helen Fogwill Porter collects Order of Canada

Acclaimed author, activist and self-described "proud Newfoundlander" Helen Fogwill Porter was invested into the Order of Canada during a special ceremonyin her hometown of St. John's on Tuesday.

"It's a great honour to be here. I'm very stunned to be getting this award," Porter said, addressing the crowd at Government House.

• Order of Canada a 'surprise' for N.L. author Helen Fogwill Porter

Porter was appointed a member of the Order of Canada in December, but didn't feel up to travelling to Ottawa where other inductees were invested at Rideau Hall.

"It was a complete surprise.I'm still trying to figure out who nominated me," the 86-year-old joked, suggesting it was probably someone at the ceremony, although she didn't name names.

Porter did single out her late son in her short speech.

"It's a very happy occasion, but it's also a bit sad for me, because my son Johnny passed away inJanuary. So he would've been here," said Porter, whosethree other children were at the Tuesday ceremony.

The Governor General's office, in appointing her to the order, citedher contributions not only as one of the first women in the provinceto be published, but also her mentorship of up-and-coming writing talent, in addition to her long-standing, grassroots activism for social causes.

• St. John's footbridge dedicated to Helen Fogwill Porter

Porter began writing in the 1960s, with articles, short stories, and poetry.

HermemoirBelow the Bridge,published in 1980, is based on her youth growing up on the south side of St. John's.

Her first novelJanuary, February, June or July won the Young Adult Canadian Book Award from the Canadian Library Association in 1989.

She was given the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council's lifetime achievement award in 1993.