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Psychology chair Martin Antony has received the highest academic honour awarded to Canadian scholars – he was elected to the Royal Society of Canada (RSC).

The Royal Society of Canada was established in 1882 as the senior Canadian collegium of distinguished scholars, artists and scientists. It is Canada’s National Academy and its primary objective is to promote learning and research in the arts, the humanities and the natural and social sciences.

“On behalf of Ryerson University, I congratulate Dr. Antony on this well-deserved honour,” said Provost and Vice President Academic Mohamed Lachemi. “It reflects not only his passion for academic and research excellence but gives recognition to the high quality scholarship and education happening at Ryerson.”

Antony was named a RSC fellow based on his research accomplishments in the area of anxiety disorders, perfectionism and cognitive behavior therapy. The nominator’s citation described Antony as “a world leader in research on anxiety and related disorders whose work has garnered numerous awards for creating highly effective treatments. He has published 29 books and over 190 influential research papers and chapters, and has presented around the world. His best-selling self-help manuals are widely recommended for their evidence-based strategies. He is the founding director of the master’s and doctoral programs in psychology. He is also past president of the Canadian Psychological Association and director of research at Canada’s largest anxiety treatment centre, which he established.”

"I am very grateful to have been selected by my peers from across the country to receive this exciting honour,” Antony said. “I want to thank my many colleagues, students, mentors, and research participants for their collaboration and support over the past 25 years. This could not have happened without them."

Antony is one of six Ryerson professors to be inducted into the Royal Society of Canada: English professor Irene Gammel in 2009; Marta Braun, image arts and Anastasios (Tas) Venetsanopoulos, electrical and computer engineering, in 2010; Bruce Elder, image arts, in 2007; and Maurice Yeates, former dean of graduate studies, in 1980. There are more than 2,000 fellows, peer-elected as the best in their field. The fellowship of the RSC comprises distinguished men and women from all branches of learning who have made remarkable contributions in the arts, the humanities and the sciences, as well as in Canadian public life.

“Dr. Antony's pioneering scholarly contributions have long been acknowledged the world over,” said Jean-Paul Boudreau, Faculty of Arts dean. “Being inducted into the prestigious Royal Society of Canada is an accolade of the highest order. The RSC distinction is further evidence of the stellar quality of our faculty.”

Antony will be inducted to the academy of RSC at the awards ceremony on Nov. 16 in Banff, Alta.