Famous Canadian filmmaker of Armenian origin Atom Egoyan was honored with a Companion of the Order of Canada, the highest honor the Canadian government bestows to its citizens, by His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston for his contribution to Canadian culture, Egoyan’s wife Arsinee Khanjian wrote on Facebook.

“Atom Egoyan is committed to the development of homegrown talent and a vibrant cultural industry. One of our cultural treasures, he has built an international reputation as a filmmaker while remaining firmly rooted in Canada. His outstanding body of work often focuses on the themes of community, isolation and the role of technology in our lives. Generous with his time and talent, he serves as a mentor and teacher, and as an active member of cultural boards and film festival juries. He is also a talented visual artist and director of both theater and opera,” the honoring speech reads.