Nardwuar becomes first ‘human serviette’ appointed to Order of Canada

TORONTO — When Nardwuar rhymes off a list of fellow members of the Order of Canada, he includes baseball player Fergie Jenkins, filmmaker Guy Maddin and singer Avril Lavigne – twice.

It’s not surprising that the Tartan-clad celebrity interviewer seems to hold the Canadian pop princess in particular esteem, since he’s yet to interrogate her in one of his colourful and unpredictable viral video chats.

“I am now beside those people, I cannot believe it,” he exclaimed during a recent video call.

“Over the years, different people have got together and said, ‘Nardwuar should host the Junos’ or ‘Nardwuar should get this award.’ But I kind of forgot about all that stuff.

“I’m humbled that people thought I was worthy, I was nominated, and the committee actually allowed me to be a member of the Order of Canada.”

In true Nardwuar style, he draws out saying, “Order of Canada” as if he’s naming a mystical creature, widening his eyes in wonder at the magnitude of the recognition as he grips his handheld microphone.

The Vancouver personality, born John Ruskin, is among 80 appointees announced on Wednesday, including children’s singer Raffi, country musician Terri Clark, and a list of Supreme Court justices, scientists, authors and athletes.

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.”

He established his name on local college radio before hitting MuchMusic’s national airwaves in the late 1990s as a TV personality who interviewed the likes of Nirvana, Blur and Snoop Dogg.

His goofy demeanour betrays the deep research he conducts on his subjects, who are often left stunned when he whips out little-known facts about their high school days or presents them with obscure pop culture artifacts with deep personal meaning.

After toiling away on national television, Nardwuar exploded in popularity during the YouTube era. His interviews with hip-hop stars Pharrell Williams, Future and Cardi B exposed him to a whole new audience, and the short-form format was ideal for viral moments and fan-made clips.

“With the internet, I see a kid walking down the street in the pouring rain watching one of my videos,” he said.

“Remember, before you couldn’t watch videos in the pouring rain or in the sunshine.”

Since then, Nardwuar has grown into a brand in himself. He recently partnered with Nike to release a Nardwuar skate shoe inspired by his tam o’shanter cap, while he muses about the possibility of one day launching a “Nard-wear” clothing line.

Actor Timothée Chalamet reached out last year and requested he be interviewed by the legend, while pop star Billie Eilish was so impressed by her first conversation that she came back for a second.

Asked how he digs up unknown trivia about the celebrities he interviews, Nardwuar remains cagey.

“It’s not that hard to do research, just putting in time, going to the library,” he says, as if the celebrity facts were hidden on bookshelves.

“I am always on the lookout. I have a file built up on everybody. Like, for instance, if I ever talk to Paul McCartney, I have a file that I pull down. If I ever talk to Elton John, I have a file.”

Much of his work ethic can be traced back to his mother Olga Ruskin, a journalist who worked as a court reporter for the Toronto Star in the 1950s before launching the Vancouver cable access show “Our Pioneers and Neighbours” in the 1970s.

“(She) taught me so much about history, local independent media, and the value of research,” he said.

“So it really goes back to my mom installing those values in me.”

With his Order of Canada, Nardwuar remains hopeful it might convince a few of the musicians who have eluded him to finally agree to be interviewed for his channel.

One is them McCartney, the former Beatle who’s dodged his best efforts over the years. Another is Canadian Neil Young, whose lyric “keep on rockin’ in the free world” has been immortalized as one of Nardwuar’s catchphrases.

Over the summer, Nardwuar says he got closer than ever to speaking with Young, who has rebuffed all of his past advances. It happened during an interview with Green Party leader Elizabeth May who he says assured him that Young was a friend, and that she’d make the connection.

“She actually emailed Neil Young and Neil said no,” Nardwuar added.

“But that won’t stop me. I’ll still hopefully one day get an interview with Neil. Hello, Neil! Please!”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 31, 2025.

David Friend, The Canadian Press