October 27, 2019 | Volunteer & Awards
Alumna Margaret Atwood receives honour from Queen Elizabeth
Author Margaret Atwood (BA 1961 VIC, Hon DLitt 1983, Hon DSacLitt 1987 VIC), who has long-running ties to U of T, received the Companion of Honour for her contributions to literature (photo by Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Acclaimed author Margaret Atwood (BA 1961 VIC, Hon DLitt 1983, Hon DSacLitt 1987 VIC) has received the Companion of Honour for her major contributions to literature.
Atwood accepted the award and shook hands with Queen Elizabeth on October 25 at a ceremony at Windsor Castle, CBC reports.
The Companion of Honour is granted to people who have made a significant impact in the arts, science, medicine or government. There are only 65 companions at any one time. Past recipients include Stephen Hawking and Desmond Tutu.
Earlier this year, Atwood shared the Booker Prize with British writer Bernardine Evaristo. Atwood's share of the win was for The Testaments, her highly anticipated sequel to The Handmaid's Tale.
Atwood graduated from Victoria College in 1961 and later returned to serve as writer in residence. She has donated over 600 boxes of materials to U of T Libraries, including the first handwritten draft of The Handmaid's Tale.
Read more about Atwood receiving the Companion of Honour on CBC
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