ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti fˈoːɹ, hiː wʌz mˌeɪd ɐn ˈɑːfɪsɚɹ ʌvðɪ ˈɔːɹdɚɹ ʌv kˈænədə, kˈænədəz hˈaɪɪst sɪvˈɪliən ˈɑːnɚ, fɔːɹ hˈævɪŋ "ʃˈoʊn tɹˈuː mˈæstɚɹi ʌv hɪz ˈɑːɹt θɹuː hɪz ɐbˈɪləɾi tə ɹˈiːtʃ ˈɔːl ˈeɪdʒᵻz wɪð hɪz mjˈuːzɪk".
In 1994, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, Canada's highest civilian honour, for having "shown true mastery of his art through his ability to reach all ages with his music".