Legendary singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot received a promotion of sorts Saturday -- he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada.

That is the highest rank in the order, which celebrates outstanding achievement and service.

The honour was bestowed upon him in a private ceremony by Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson.

"A singer-songwriter, musician and poet, Gordon Lightfoot has been telling our stories in song for over five decades. He possesses a unique ability to blend contemporary urban music with our traditional roots," read the news release on the governor general's Web site.

"Genuine and reserved, he has a down-to-earth style that defies categorization. The consummate perfectionist, he has influenced a host of other musicians with his versatility and thought-provoking lyrics. With an impressive list of successful recordings to his credit, he has garnered numerous industry awards and remains one of Canada's most beloved musicians."

The 64-year-old Lightfoot has spent the last year recuperating from a near-fatal abdominal hemorrhage.

He's gone through two rounds of surgery and has another scheduled for the spring.

At a public appearance to be inducted in the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, he expressed a desire to perform again soon.

A tribute album comprised of leading Canadian singers interpreting his songs was released in October.

One of those songs was the Canadian Railroad Trilogy, which some critics have called the quintessential Canadian song. Other popular tunes include If You Could Read My Mind and The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Fifty-five other Canadians were honoured in a ceremony Friday. There were four Companions, 19 Officers and 33 Members.

Included were actor Leslie Nielsen, astronaut Marc Garneau, former Liberal cabinet minister Lloyd Axworthy, filmmaker Allan King, Claire L'Heureux-Dube, a former Supreme Court justice, artist Betty Goodwin and Anne Claire Poirier, a leading director in Quebec cinema.