On Sept. 23 at Ottawa’s Rideau Hall, Governor General David Johnston appointed 44 Canadians into the Order of Canada, including Guelph resident Eric Walters. Among the esteemed honourees in attendance were CBC’s personality Rick Mercer, and singer-songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk. According to the Governor General’s website, the Order was established by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1967 honouring those who have “enriched the lives of others and made a difference to this country.”
Born and raised in Toronto, Walters attended York University earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology, and both a bachelor and masters in social work. He began enriching the lives of children and adults as a social worker with a background in “child welfare, private practice, a mental health treatment centre, and for eighteen years part time in an emergency department while teaching,” according Walters’ website.
An excerpt from the Governor General’s website reveals that as the acclaimed writer of more than 85 books for youth audiences, Walters is recognized specifically for his “contributions as an author of literature for children and young adults whose stories help young readers grapple with complex social issues.” This prolific writer was initially inspired to write in 1993 by his grade five class at Vista Heights Public School in Mississauga.
Walters’ first novel, Stand Your Ground, was set in the school’s community of Streetsville with characters resembling his students. The effect was precisely what a dedicated teacher could hope for: his students were increasingly more enthusiastic about reading and writing. As Walters publishes more stories, students across the province are likewise encouraged to get involved in literature, which is evidenced by his multiple Silver Birch, Red Maple and White Pine awards that are decided by the votes of students from grades three through 12 via the Ontario Library Association.
Although he is no longer teaching, Walters continues to educate and captivate young readers by speaking at schools nation-wide. The National Post declared: “Walters is the LeBron James of school visits, making an estimated 500 presentations a year.” Originally, these presentations served the purpose of promotion, Walters admitted in an interview with Canadian Review of Materials, but they have now evolved to engage students in discussions about the significance of integrity and justice in our society.
Walters makes a difference in this country by empowering kids to inform themselves and develop their literary skills. Among many other themes, he explores Canadian history and strives to enlighten readers to unknown or underrated national heroes and geniuses, such as Terry Fox in Run, Doctors Frederick Banting and Charles Best in Elixir, and the mysteries of figures and sites involved in World War II throughout the Camp X series.
Walters is constantly expanding his audience. He presents across North America and internationally, having ventured to both Japan and Germany; and his novels are now available in countries around the world, in over a dozen languages.
Just as the influence of Walters’ works and lectures is not limited to Canada, neither are his philanthropic efforts. Creation of Hope is a youth outreach foundation, created by Walters, his wife Anita, and Ruth and Henry Kyatha, which supports more than 500 orphans in the Kenyan district of Mbooni. The program maximizes transparency by showing on their website how donations are distributed, updating donators on the allocation of funds to residence, food, medicine, school supplies, and much more.
In the Canadian Review of Materials interview, Walters said, “I believe two themes run through my stories. One is a sense of belonging – people want to belong somewhere. The second theme is that, whether you’re female or male, you have some power to make changes in your life.”
Walters continues to create a place for youth in the literary world, and a platform to understand the world around them. Together, the subject matter of his stories and his community involvement, on a local, national, or global scale, demonstrate how an individual has the capacity to improve not only their life, but the lives of others.
From his first book, Walters has enthralled and educated his audience. He has had many roles in his life, and now Canada very deservedly recognizes Walters as an exceptional member of the literary community and an inspirational advocate of social awareness.
About
The Ontarion publishes independent, student-produced news, opinion, and commentary for University of Guelph students so that they can make informed decisions in their lives. To do this, The Ontarion provides learning opportunities and training in journalism, media production, leadership, board governance, and other aspects of nonprofit news.
The Ontarion is the University of Guelph’s independent student newspaper. It began in 1951 as part of the Ontario Agricultural College and then began to represent the entire University of Guelph once it amalgamated in 1964. The Ontarion incorporated in May 1970 as The Ontarion, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation registered with the province of Ontario.