Carol Shields poses for a photo at Government House in Victoria, B.C., Saturday, after she was presented with the companion of the Order of Canada Award. Photo: Richard Lam/CP

Victoria — Author Carol Shields says she found Canada a puzzling place when she arrived as a young bride from the United States in the mid 1950s.

The Pulitzer Prize winner and Booker Prize nominee said Saturday she couldn't understand Canadian jokes, politics or literature.

But Canada slowly grew to be her home, she told family and friends at a special ceremony at Government House in Victoria where Ms. Shields, 67, was named a companion in the Order of Canada, the order's highest honour.

"There were many years when I thought that Canada was the country I came to," Ms. Shields said. "I don't know when it happened, what year or week or day, but very gradually it became the country I was from and proudly from."

Ms. Shields, who is battling breast cancer, said the companion honour was a thrilling achievement in her life.

She said the past week has been one she'll never forget.

Ms. Shields was on the short list for the Booker Prize — awarded this week — for her most recent novel, Unless, and her promotion to companion in the Order of Canada was held at Government House in Victoria in front of family and friends.

"It's been very exciting and rewarding and thrilling," she said. "It just sort of right at the top, it brings everything together. It's very exciting for me."

Ms. Shields had been unable to travel to London for the announcement Tuesday of the Booker, which was won by another Canadian author, Yann Martel.

British Columbia Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo presented the Order of Canada insignia to Ms. Shields on the same day 40 others previously named to the Order received their citations in Halifax.

Other companions honoured Saturday were choreographer and director Brian Macdonald, journalist and filmmaker Patrick Watson and scholar Ronald St. John Macdonald.

The Order of Canada was established in 1967 to recognize outstanding achievements and service in various fields of human endeavour.

Ms. Shields spoke briefly about her health in an interview following the ceremony.

"My health is, I always have to say this, it's sort of up and down, and day by day, week by week," she said. "But at this moment I'm feeling full of energy and just very happy to be here."

Ms. Campagnolo said Ms. Shields's award is a medal for those who make a positive difference in Canadian society.

"Although you have received many well-deserved honours during your career Carol, as one of your legion of admirers, I know I am not alone when I tell you how grateful we all are to you for your magnificent perseverance through the dark and the light of life," she said.

Ms. Shields said she has a work in progress, but it's slow going.

"It's either a long short story or a short novel, I'm not quite sure which at the moment," she said. "I wanted to write a bit about aging. About getting older and what that is like."

Ms. Shields, who moved to Victoria with her husband, Don, about two years ago, paid special tribute to Winnipeg, the city where her writing grew to maturity.

"Winnipeg was the best thing that ever happened to me, the 20 years I spent in Winnipeg," she said. "I did all my major writing there.

"I loved the community," she said. "I feel at home there.

"I saw a picture last night of a little snow storm they were having and I felt just full of nostalgia for that time and place."