She was awarded the OC (Officer of the Order of Canada) on December 17, 1973 and the CC (Companion of the Order of Canada) on June 21, 1981 for her services to literature.
She was awarded the CH (Member of the Order of the Companion of Honour) in the 2019 Queen's New Years Honours List for her services to literature. She is a Canadian author.
Has one daughter: Eleanor Jess Atwood Gibson (born 1976) with her companion Graeme Gibson (1934-2019).