WASHINGTON -- Canadians Frank Gehry and Lorne Michaels are at the White House today to receive America's highest civilian honour: the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The Toronto natives are among 21 new honourees being recognized by U.S. President Barack Obama, who described the star-studded list of recipients as "a particularly impressive class."
Gehry is a world-renowned architect whose best-known buildings include the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, the Dancing House in Prague and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. He was also behind the redesign of the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto.
Michaels is a 13-time Emmy winner best known for creating and producing the legendary sketch comedy series "Saturday Night Live." He has also produced "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," "Late Night with Seth Meyers" and the acclaimed sitcom "30 Rock."
Obama says Gehry has inspired the next generation through his advocacy for arts education, and that his work -- like all great art -- can lift spirits.
The commander-in-chief also praised Michaels for his work on "SNL," in creating a world "where a band of no-names become comedy's biggest stars."
Other recipients include retired NBA legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan, philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates, Oscar winners Robert De Niro and Tom Hanks, rocker Bruce Springsteen, talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, and music icon Diana Ross.
