Adjunct Professor Peter Calamai received his official investiture as a Member of the Order of Canada from Governor General David Johnston in a formal ceremony May 13 at Rideau Hall. Calamai had initially been named to the Order in December, 2014 but formal investitures normally lag months behind those announcements.
His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, presents the Member of the Order of Canada insignia to Peter Calamai, C.M.<br />Credit: MCpl Vincent Carbonneau, Rideau Hall, OSGG
The citation read at the ceremony for the 72-year-old Calamai called him “an advocate for science, literacy and journalistic professionalism.” It lauded “a strong commitment to public issues” in his work for the Southam newspapers and the Toronto Star.
“He is also known for his award-winning 1987 series on the issue of adult literacy in Canada and has since become a tireless champion of the cause,” the citation concluded.
Calamai has been an adjunct research professor in the School of Journalism and Communication since 2001. He was a visiting associate professor in 1997-98 and a sessional lecturer in 2008-9. In addition he has served as a supervisor for seven Master’s Research Projects, mostly on science topics.
His journalism for Southam began at the Hamilton Spectator in 1965 and ended at the Ottawa Citizen in 1996. His postings as a correspondent were Ottawa (twice), London, Vancouver, Nairobi and Washington. As well he was a Southam Fellow at Massey College in 1982-83 and the Max Bell chair at the University of Regina School of Journalism in 1985-86.
Since 1990 Calamai and his wife Mary have lived in Ottawa but they are moving to Stratford, ON in June. As a consequence he has donated his journalism books to the Resource Centre. His even larger Sherlock Holmes library, however, is moving with them.
Saturday, May 21, 2016 in Journalism News, News
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