Armenian-Canadian children’s music icon and activist Raffi Cavoukian has been awarded Canada’s highest civilian honor, the Order of Canada, in appointments announced on December 31, 2025. He was promoted to the prestigious Companion of the Order of Canada, the highest rank within the Order, recognizing his decades-long cultural impact and advocacy centered on children’s well-being and environmental stewardship.
The Governor General’s office described Raffi as a beloved songwriter and entertainer whose songs have impacted generations with messages of love, environmental stewardship and social responsibility, and credited him as the creator of the Raffi Foundation for Child Honouring, focused on ensuring a safe future for children of the world.
The Raffi Foundation for Child Honouring is an initiative centered on promoting children’s rights and overall well-being. Beyond his music, Raffi has been deeply involved in advocacy for environmental and social causes, frequently addressing issues such as the commercial exploitation of children and climate change through his music, writing and public appearances.
Raffi Cavoukian was born in Cairo, Egypt, on July 8, 1948, and his Armenian family immigrated to Canada in 1958, settling in Toronto. His upbringing was shaped by a strong artistic environment. He began performing as a folk singer in the early 1970s and later found his niche creating music for young children, including the landmark album “Singable Songs for the Very Young,” released in 1976, which went on to sell more than 300,000 copies in Canada.
Raffi, often called the “king of children’s music” and described as the “most popular children’s singer in the English-speaking world,” is known for iconic songs such as “Baby Beluga” and “Bananaphone.” He has released more than twenty albums and earned three Grammy nominations, including Best Recording for Children for “Everything Grows” in 1987, “Raffi in Concert with the Rise and Shine Band” in 1988, and Best Musical Album for Children for “Bananaphone” at the 37th Annual Grammy Awards.
