Award-winning Oak Bay author Kit Pearson was bestowed one of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 highest honours Thursday.

Pearson was appointed to the Order of Canada for her contributions as an author of Canadian literature for children and young adults.

B次元官网网址淚t is definitely a career highlight,B次元官网网址� said Pearson, noting that news of the award came out of the blue. B次元官网网址淚 wish I knew who nominated me so I could thank them.B次元官网网址�

She is one of 103 new appointments announced by Governor General Julie Payette in Ottawa Dec. 27.

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Pearson is best known for her novels The Sky Is Falling (1989), Looking at the Moon (1991), and The Lights Go on Again (1993) that were published as The Guests of War Trilogy.

She also won the Governor GeneralB次元官网网址檚 Literary Award for young peopleB次元官网网址檚 literature in 1997 for her book Awake and Dreaming (1996).

B次元官网网址淚 was 36 when I wrote my first novel and now IB次元官网网址檓 72,B次元官网网址� said Pearson. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e always been a late bloomer. I have a few more novels in me.B次元官网网址�

Kit Pearson is the third person in her family to receive the Order of Canada, joining her father, Hugh John Sanders Pearson, and grandfather, Hugh Edward Pearson.

Hugh John Sanders Pearson was awarded the Order in 1993 for being a pillar of voluntarism in his community. The Alberta businessman set new standards in fundraising for the University of AlbertaB次元官网网址檚 Business faculty and maintained a long-standing commitment to the Salvation Army. He also spearheaded the establishment of OttawaB次元官网网址檚 Terry Fox Youth Centre and supported various cultural and environmental initiatives across the country.

Hugh Edward Pearson was awarded the honour in 1976 for helping to establish one of the first radio stations in Alberta and playing a prominent role in the development of broadcasting in the West.

Born in Edmonton in 1947, Kit Pearson spent her childhood in Vancouver and Edmonton, attending high school at Crofton House boarding school in Vancouver.

Majoring in English, she spent one year at UBC before transferring to finish her degree at the University of Alberta.

In 1975, she returned to UBC to complete a Library degree, working as a librarian in St. Catharines and Toronto after graduation. Furthering her education, Pearson went to Boston to do her masterB次元官网网址檚 at the Simmons College Center for the Study of ChildrenB次元官网网址檚 Literature before moving back to Vancouver to begin her first childrenB次元官网网址檚 novel, The Daring Game.

She spent 20 years in Vancouver writing before moving on to Victoria in 2005, where she now resides in a house in Oak Bay with her partner artist Katherine Farris.

Her newest novel, Be My Love B次元官网网址� the third in a trilogy that includes The Whole Truth and And Nothing But The Truth B次元官网网址� will be published in February 2019.

She is also writing a picture book with partner Farris, illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard, called The Magic Boat, that will be published by Orca in March 2019.

Up next for Pearson, she said, is writing an adult novel, set at the University of Alberta B次元官网网址� possibly autobiographical.

B次元官网网址淚 am equally terrified with every book. But unlike with the first one, now I can look back and know that IB次元官网网址檝e done it before,B次元官网网址� said Pearson. B次元官网网址淭hat makes it easier.B次元官网网址�

For those that are interested in becoming a writer, Pearson recommends reading as much as possible.

B次元官网网址淎t some point, you will have to learn grammar and dialogue,B次元官网网址� said Pearson. B次元官网网址淏ut usually people who like writing, enjoy the nuts and bolts. ItB次元官网网址檚 a game.B次元官网网址�

For more information on PearsonB次元官网网址檚 work, visit

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Created in 1967, the Order of Canada honours people B次元官网网址渨hose service shapes our society; whose innovations ignite our imaginations; and whose compassion unites our communities.B次元官网网址�

Close to 7,000 people from all sectors of society have been invested into the Order of Canada.

To learn more about the Order of Canada or to nominate someone, visit .