- Poet Laureate of Brantford in perpetuity, 2005-
- Honourary Life Member of The Canadian Poetry Association, 2005-
- member of the Chancellor's Circle of the President's Club of McMaster University, 2007
- inaugural Black Moss Press Souwesto Award, 2007 (for his contribution to the ethos of writing in Southwestern Ontario)
- over sixty prestigious international awards for his writing
- $10,000 CBC Literary Award for Poetry
- the only two time recipient of the People's Poetry Award
- inaugural Souwesto/Orison Writing Award (University of Windsor), 2006
- Winston Collins Award for Best Canadian Poem, 2007
- Award of Merit for Professional Achievement presented by the University of Western Ontario, 2010
- International Poets Academy Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Peace through Poetry, 2007
John B. Lee's works copyright © to the author.