A cult figure in Canadian music journalism, John Ruskin, known worldwide as Nardwuar the Human Serviette, has been named a Member of the Order of Canada, an honour recognizing more than three decades of work.
The Vancouver-based host and interviewer shared the news on Instagram, expressing both pride and surprise at receiving such an official distinction.
Since the 1990s, Nardwuar has built an international reputation through interviews that have become legendary, where apparent eccentricity conceals obsessive research and an encyclopedic knowledge of the artists he interviews. His time at MuchMusic marked a turning point in how music interviews are conducted.
Known for his extravagant costumes and his iconic 'doot-doot-da-loot', the journalist is deeply attached to Canadian music history and the independent media ecosystem. He dedicated the honour to his late mother, whom he credits as a defining influence on his intellectual rigor and respect for archival work.
Alongside his work as an interviewer, Nardwuar has long pursued a parallel career as a punk musician and continues to host programs on Vancouver’s community radio. This appointment adds to a list of honours he has already received, including induction into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame and a star on Vancouver’s Granville Street Walk of Fame.
