Photo Credit:
Photo credit
Eric Dumigan
Ted Barris
BIO
Biography

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.

ADDRESS
City: Uxbridge, Province/Territory: Ontario
EMAIL
LANGUAGES
English
PUBLICATIONS
Publications
Title
Fire Canoe: Prairie Steamboat Days Revisited
Publisher
McClelland and Stewart
Year
1977
Title
Rodeo Cowboys: The Last Heroes
Publisher
Prairie Books
Year
1981
Title
Positive Power: The Story of the Edmonton Oilers
Publisher
ESP Publications
Year
1982
Title
Spirit of the West
Publisher
Key Porter
Year
1987
Title
Behind the Glory: The Plan that Won the Allied Air War
Publisher
Macmillan Canada
Year
1992
Title
Days of Victory: Canadians Remember 1939-1945
Publisher
Macmillan Canada
Year
1995
Title
Playing Overtime: A Celebration of Oldtimers Hockey
Publisher
Macmillan Canada
Year
1995
Title
Deadlock in Korea: Canadians at War, 1950-1953
Publisher
Macmillan Canada
Year
1999
Title
Carved in Granite: 125 Years of Granite Club History
Publisher
Macmillan Canada
Year
1999
Title
Making Music: Profiles from a Century of Making Music
Publisher
HarperCollins
Year
2001
Title
Canada and Korea: Perspectives 2000
Publisher
Centre for Korean Studies, U of T
Year
2002
Title
Juno: Canadians at D-Day, June 6, 1944
Publisher
Thomas Allen
Year
2004
Title
Days of Victory: Canadians Remember 1939-1945 (60th Anniversary Edition)
Publisher
Thomas Allen
Year
2005
Title
Behind the Glory: Canada's Role in the Allied Air War
Publisher
Thomas Allen
Year
2006
Title
101 Things Canadians Should Know About Canada
Publisher
Key Porter
Year
2008
Title
Breaking the Silence: Veterans' Untold Stories from the Great War to Afghanistan
Publisher
Thomas Allen
Year
2009
Title
Deadlock in Korea: Canadians at War, 1950-1953 (60th Anniversary Edition)
Publisher
Thomas Allen
Year
2010
Title
The Great Escape: A Canadian Story
Publisher
Dundurn Press
Year
2013
Title
Dam Busters: Canadian Airmen and the Secret Raid Against Nazi Germany
Publisher
HarperCollins
Year
2018
Title
Rush to Danger: Medics in the Line of Fire
Publisher
HarperCollins
Year
2019
Title
Battle of the Atlantic: Gauntlet to Victory
Publisher
HarperCollins
Year
2022
AWARDS
Awards
Name
White Owl Conservation Award
Publication
60-Second Public Service Film
Year
1972
Name
Billboard Radio Documentary Award
Publication
The Sinking of the RMS Titanic
Year
1977
Name
Golden Sheaf, Yorkton Film Festival
Publication
Elk Island: Prairie Sanctuary
Year
1985
Name
Canada 125 Medal
Year
1993
Name
Patriot Award
Publication
Remembrance Service Association of Halifax
Year
2004
Name
Bear Hackle Award
Publication
78th Fraser Highlanders (Canadian) Regiment
Year
2006
Name
Medallion of Excellence
Publication
Ontario (116th) Regiment
Year
2011
Name
Miinister of Veterans Affairs Commendation
Publication
Veterans Affairs Canada
Year
2011
Name
Libris Award (shared with Chris Hadfield)
Publication
Independent Booksellers of Canada
Year
2014
Name
Certificate of Honor
Publication
U.S. Stalag Luft III POW Association
Year
2014
Name
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
Publication
Royal Canadian Air Force Association recommendation
Year
2012
Name
NORAD Trophy
Publication
Royal Canadian Air Force Association
Year
2018
Name
Charle Taylor Prize for Non-Fiction in Canada (long list)
Year
2020
Name
Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Award
Year
2022
Name
Bravo Zulu Award
Publication
4th Canadian Mounted Rifles Association
Year
2017
Name
Member
Publication
Order of Canada
Year
2022
LINKS
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS
Presentation details
Audience Size
Audience size
Any
Presentation Genre
Non-Fiction
Presentation Length
60 Minutes, Plus Q&A
Programs & Interests
Interested in participating Union’s Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program:
All members are eligible for the Union’s Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program. Are you interested in participating in this pro
Yes
Interested in participating in the Northern Ontario WITS program:
The Union’s Northern Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program funds in-person visits to northern Ontario schools when possible. Ar
Yes