Ted Barris is an accomplished author, journalist and broadcaster. As well as hosting stints on CBC Radio and TV Ontario, and regular contributions to the Globe and Mail and the National Post, Barris has authored 20 non-fiction books, including a dozen bestsellers on Canadians in the Great War, the Second World War, the Korean War and the War in Afghanistan. Since completing his Bachelor of Applied Arts at Ryerson in 1971, Barris has pursued a freelance career across Canada and the United States. His broadcast work has been heard and seen on CBC Radio & Television, the CTV Network, TV Ontario, ACCESS in Alberta, as well as on National Public Radio in the United States. His writing is regularly published in periodicals such as Legion magazine, esprit de corps and Zoomer. He also writes a weekly newspaper column - the Barris Beat - and recently retired as professor of journalism at Toronto’s Centennial College. Among the awards Ted Barris has received: the international Billboard Radio Documentary Award, the Yorkton Film Festival’s Golden Sheaf, as well as numerous ACTRA nominations. In 1993, he received the Canada 125 Medal “for service to Canada and community.” In 2004, the Remembrance Service Association of Halifax recognized him with its Patriot Award. In 2006, the renowned 78th Fraser Highlanders (Canadian) Regiment presented its annual excellence award, the Bear Hackle Award. In 2011, the Ontario (116th) Regiment awarded him the Medallion of Excellence for his work in documenting military history. Also in 2011, he was recipient of the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation. In 2012, the Air Force Association of Canada selected Ted Barris to receive Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. His book The Great Escape: A Canadian Story won the 2014 Libris Non-Fiction Book of the Year. In 2018, his book Dam Busters: Canadian Airmen and the Secret Raid Against Nazi Germany, was awarded the RCAF Association NORAD Trophy. His 19th book Rush to Danger: Medics in the Line of Fire was long listed for the 2020 RBC Charles Taylor Non-Fiction Prize. In 2022, at the time his book Battle of the Atlantic: Gauntlet to Victory was published, Ted Barris was recognized with Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Award. Additionally, in December 2022, Rideau Hall notified him that he'd been appointed Member of the Order of Canada.
