Jan 4, 2026
The Vancouver personality, born John Ruskin, is among 80
appointees announced on Wednesday,
Unlike most of them, the 57-year-old will be inducted
under his stage name, “Nardwuar, the Human Serviette,” a rare
exception for one of Canada’s highest honours that meets the spirit
of his off-the-wall personality.
For the uninitiated, Nardwuar might be described as a
Canadian enigma who gradually invaded pop culture over several
decades, propelled by his interviews, which all finish with his
trademark phrase “Doot doola doot doo...doot doo.”
David Friend, Canadian Press
I've had the pleasure of knowing Nardwuar since his high
school days in West Van. He and Craig Northey would be the first to
knock on my front door on Halloween. Looking for record handouts
instead of candy.
During my years at Much Music as host/producer of
MuchWest, great cameraman Jay Mirus and I would always be
running into Nardwar.
Usually around the concerts and soundchecks.
Jay and Nard became great friends, and eventually, when I
moved on, Jay became the host of MuchWest, and he asked Nardwuar to
co-host. That was the first national television exposure for Nard.
Now he was on a roll. He became the famous media character
the World now knows.
He's a guy with Nike making a skateboard shoe in his Tartan
colours ,and the following week, induction into the Order of
Canada.
And he's not done yet.
Congrats Nardwuar, and a big shout-out to Jay Mirus.