The orders, decorations, and medals of Canada comprise a complex system by which Canadians are honoured by the country's sovereign for actions or deeds that benefit their community or the country at large. Modelled on its British predecessor, the structure originated in the 1930s, but began to come to full fruition at the time of Canada's centennial

Canadian Centennial

The Canadian Centennial was a year long celebration held in 1967 when Canada celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation. Celebrations occurred throughout the year but culminated on Dominion Day, July 1. 1967 coins were different from previous years' issues, with animals on each...

 in 1967, with the establishment of the Order of Canada

Order of Canada

The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...

, and has since grown in both size and scope to include dynastic and national orders

Order (decoration)

An order or order of merit is a visible honour, awarded by a government, dynastic house or international organization to an individual, usually in recognition of distinguished service to a nation or to humanity. The distinction between orders and decorations is somewhat vague, except that most...

; state

State decoration

State decorations are orders, medals and other decorations granted by a state. International decorations are similar, but are not granted by a specific nation but rather an international organization....

, civil, and military decorations; and various campaign medal

Campaign medal

A campaign medal is a military decoration which is awarded to a member of the military who serves in a designated military operation or performs duty in a geographical theater...

s. The monarch in right of each Canadian province

Provinces and territories of Canada

The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...

 also issues distinct orders and medals to honour residents for work performed in just their province. The provincial honours, as with some of their national counterparts, grant the use of post-nominal letters

Post-nominal letters

Post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials, post-nominal titles or designatory letters, are letters placed after the name of a person to indicate that the individual holds a position, educational degree, accreditation, office, or honour. An individual may use several different sets of...

 and or supporters

Supporters

In heraldry, supporters are figures usually placed on either side of the shield and depicted holding it up. These figures may be real or imaginary animals, human figures, and in rare cases plants or inanimate objects...

 and other devices to be used on personal coats of arms

Coat of arms

A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...

.

The monarch is regarded as the fount of all honours

Fount of honour

The fount of honour refers to a nation's head of state, who, by virtue of his or her official position, has the exclusive right of conferring legitimate titles of nobility and orders of chivalry to other persons.- Origin :...

—as he or she is the only person who may create new national honours—and acts as the Sovereign of all of Canada's orders; she, or other members of the Canadian Royal Family, will conduct inductions or present medals. In Canada, the monarch is represented by the governor general

Governor General of Canada

The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...

, who also carries out investitures and distributes awards in the sovereign's name. As such, the administration of the honours system is carried out by the Chancellery of Honours at Government House

Rideau Hall

Rideau Hall is, since 1867, the official residence in Ottawa of both the Canadian monarch and the Governor General of Canada. It stands in Canada's capital on a 0.36 km2 estate at 1 Sussex Drive, with the main building consisting of 170 rooms across 9,500 m2 , and 24 outbuildings around the...

, which is a part of the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General of Canada

Secretary to the Governor General of Canada

The Secretary to the Governor General is the head of the Office of the Governor General of Canada and is based at Rideau Hall, Ottawa. The current secretary is Stephen Wallace, appointed in 2011.-Secretaries to the governor general:...

. The governor general also sets out via Order in Council the order of precedence

Canadian order of precedence (Decorations and Medals)

The following is the Canadian order of precedence for decorations and medals. Where applicable, post-nominal letters are indicated.-Awards of valour:-National orders:-Provincial orders:-National decorations:-National medals:...

 for the wearing of insignia, decorations, and medals.

History

As far back as the reign of King Louis XIV

Louis XIV of France

Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...

, Canadians have been granted by the Crown honours, decorations, and medals in recognition for their services. The Governors of New France

Governor of New France

The Governor of New France was the viceroy of the King of France in North America. A French noble, he was appointed to govern the colonies of New France, which included Canada, Acadia and Louisiana. The residence of the Governor was at the Château St-Louis in the capital of Quebec City...

 also desired to establish European honours in Canada; Samuel de Champlain

Samuel de Champlain

Samuel de Champlain , "The Father of New France", was a French navigator, cartographer, draughtsman, soldier, explorer, geographer, ethnologist, diplomat, and chronicler. He founded New France and Quebec City on July 3, 1608....

, for instance, founded on 14 November 1606 the Order of Good Cheer

Order of Good Cheer

le Order of Good Cheer , was originally a French Colonial Order founded by Samuel de Champlain upon arrival in New France present day Canada...

 (still extant today) and Charles de Montmagny

Charles de Montmagny

Charles Jacques Huault de Montmagny was governor of New France from 1636 to 1648. He succeeded Champlain, who was Lieutenant General of New France, although treated de facto as if he were governor...

 had designs to establish the Sovereign Military Order of Malta in New France

New France

New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...

 while he was governor from 1635 to 1648.

After the creation of British North America

British North America

British North America is a historical term. It consisted of the colonies and territories of the British Empire in continental North America after the end of the American Revolutionary War and the recognition of American independence in 1783.At the start of the Revolutionary War in 1775 the British...

, Canadians were entitled to receive British imperial

British Empire

The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...

 honours, though the awarding of these was not consistently allowed. Besides knight

Knight

A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....

hoods, peerage

Peerage

The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...

 titles (both hereditary

Hereditary peer

Hereditary peers form part of the Peerage in the United Kingdom. There are over seven hundred peers who hold titles that may be inherited. Formerly, most of them were entitled to sit in the House of Lords, but since the House of Lords Act 1999 only ninety-two are permitted to do so...

 and life

Life peer

In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...

) were also bestowed on Canadians, sometimes with uniquely Canadian designations—such as Baroness Macdonald

Agnes Macdonald

Susan Agnes Macdonald , 1st Baroness Macdonald of Earnscliffe was the second wife of Sir John A. Macdonald, the first Prime Minister of Canada....

 of Earnscliffe

Earnscliffe

Earnscliffe is a Victorian manor in Ottawa, Ontario. It is currently home of the British High Commissioner to Canada, and it was previously home to Canada's first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. The manor overlooks the Ottawa River just east of the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge. It is located...

 and Baron Beaverbrook

Baron Beaverbrook

Baron Beaverbrook, of Beaverbrook in the Province of New Brunswick in the Dominion of Canada and of Cherkley in the County of Surrey, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1917 for the prominent media owner and politician Sir Max Aitken, 1st Baronet. He had already been...

 of Beaverbrook in the Province of New Brunswick and of Cherkley in the County of Surrey—and permitted those so honoured to sit in the House of Lords

House of Lords

The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....

 at Westminster

Westminster

Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...

. These acts of recognition were carried out by the reigning British monarch sometimes on the advice

Advice (constitutional)

Advice, in constitutional law, is formal, usually binding, instruction given by one constitutional officer of state to another. Especially in parliamentary systems of government, Heads of state often act on the basis of advice issued by prime ministers or other government ministers...

 of the Prime Minister of Canada

Prime Minister of Canada

The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...

 and sometimes of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...

.

This practice came into question when the public began to suspect the worthiness of those receiving the knighthoods and elevations to the peerage; the controversy that surrounded the appointment of Sam Hughes

Sam Hughes

For other people of the same name see Sam Hughes Sir Samuel Hughes, KCB, PC was the Canadian Minister of Militia and Defence during World War I...

 as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath

Order of the Bath

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...

 in 1915 marked the beginning of the end of such honours in Canada. After it was revealed in 1917 that British prime minister David Lloyd George

David Lloyd George

David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...

 had been selling peerage titles and knighthoods to raise money for his political party, the awarding of such distinctions in Canada immediately ceased. Thereafter, the Canadian House of Commons

Canadian House of Commons

The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...

 in 1919 passed the Nickle Resolution, which, though never legally binding, generally cemented the cease of titular awards to Canadians. The end of the conferment of imperial honours on Canadians came in 1955. Awards for gallantry and bravery, such as the Victoria Cross

Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....

, however, remained available and knighthoods were still conferred: on Sir Frederick Banting

Frederick Banting

Sir Frederick Grant Banting, KBE, MC, FRS, FRSC was a Canadian medical scientist, doctor and Nobel laureate noted as one of the main discoverers of insulin....

 in 1934, Sir Edwin Leather

Edwin Leather

Sir Edwin Hartley Cameron "Ted" Leather, KCMG, KCVO was a Conservative politician in the United Kingdom, and Governor of Bermuda.-Education:...

 in 1964, and Sir Terry Matthews

Terry Matthews

Sir Terence Hedley Matthews OBE, FIEE, FREng is a Welsh business magnate, serial high tech entrepreneur, and Wales's first billionaire....

 in 2002. Further, some pre-existing Canadian peerages continued to be recognised—the Baron de Longueuil

Baron de Longueuil

The title Baron de Longueuil is the only currently-extant French colonial title that is recognized by Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Canada. The title was granted originally by King Louis XIV of France to a Norman military officer, Charles le Moyne de Longueuil, and its continuing recognition since...

 and Baron of Fleet

Baron Thomson of Fleet

Baron Thomson of Fleet, of Northbridge in the City of Edinburgh, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1964 for the newspaper magnate Roy Thomson...

, for example—and still others were granted after 1919 by the sovereign of Canada, such as the Viscount Bennett of Mickleham

Mickleham, Surrey

Mickleham is a village and civil parish between the towns of Dorking and Leatherhead in Surrey, England covering . The parish includes the hamlet of Fredley.-History:Mickleham lies near to the old Roman road known as Stane Street...

, Hopewell

Hopewell Hill, New Brunswick

Hopewell Hill is a Canadian rural community in Albert County, New Brunswick.It is most famous for being the birthplace of the Right Honourable Richard Bedford Bennett, 1st Viscount Bennett, PC , KC , LL.B , who was the eleventh Prime Minister of Canada from August 7, 1930 to October 23,...

, and Calgary.

Governor General the Viscount Monck had originally pushed for a distinct Canadian order of knighthood in 1867, to be called the Order of St. Lawrence. The idea was revived by Vincent Massey

Vincent Massey

Charles Vincent Massey was a Canadian lawyer and diplomat who served as Governor General of Canada, the 18th since Canadian Confederation....

 in 1935 and again in 1951, in between which he also suggested in 1940 a Royal Order of Canada. The Cabinet

Cabinet of Canada

The Cabinet of Canada is a body of ministers of the Crown that, along with the Canadian monarch, and within the tenets of the Westminster system, forms the government of Canada...

, however, never accepted these proposals, generally wishing instead to steer clear of the controversial topic of orders. Still, the beginnings of a distinct Canadian honours system came in March 1934, with the creation of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Long Service Medal

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Long Service Medal

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Long Service Medal was established by royal warrant on 6 March 1934 by King George V. It is the oldest continually awarded honour within the Canadian honours system, and the first created specifically for Canadian service within Canada...

 by royal warrant of King George V

George V of the United Kingdom

George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....

, issued on the advice of the Cabinet of R. B. Bennett

R. B. Bennett

Richard Bedford Bennett, 1st Viscount Bennett, PC, KC was a Canadian lawyer, businessman, politician, and philanthropist. He served as the 11th Prime Minister of Canada from August 7, 1930, to October 23, 1935, during the worst of the Great Depression years...

; this was the first time an honour specific to Canada and for service in Canada had been established by the monarch of Canada (as opposed to earlier campaign and service medals that had been issued to Canadians and British personnel alike by the British monarch). There was uncertainty amongst officials in Canada and Britain alike around how to go about creating such an honour, and delays were incurred not only as Canadian bureaucrats interpreted the Nickle Resolution as applying to medals, but also because the King himself was widening the project to consider all the Commonwealth and Empire police forces.

This process was refined through the Second World War

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 and Korean War

Korean War

The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...

, though the pool of available honours became smaller and smaller as the decades progressed; between 1940 and 1946, non-titular British honours continued to be granted, and from 1950 and 1953 only British military decorations were permitted. In 1942, the Canada Medal was created by royal warrant of King George VI

George VI of the United Kingdom

George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...

, though none was ever struck, and the Canadian Forces Decoration

Canadian Forces Decoration

The Canadian Forces Decoration is a Canadian award bestowed upon members of the Canadian Forces who have completed twelve years of military service, with certain conditions. By convention, it is also given to the Governor General of Canada upon his or her appointment as viceroy, which includes the...

 was in 1947 founded. Though the Letters Patent issued by the King that year permitted the governor general to exercise most of the monarch's Royal Prerogative

Royal Prerogative

The royal prerogative is a body of customary authority, privilege, and immunity, recognized in common law and, sometimes, in civil law jurisdictions possessing a monarchy as belonging to the sovereign alone. It is the means by which some of the executive powers of government, possessed by and...

 on his behalf, it was agreed between the George VI and his Canadian prime minister at the time, William Lyon Mackenzie King

William Lyon Mackenzie King

William Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...

, that the sovereign would retain the right to alone create new honours.

The centennial

Canadian Centennial

The Canadian Centennial was a year long celebration held in 1967 when Canada celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation. Celebrations occurred throughout the year but culminated on Dominion Day, July 1. 1967 coins were different from previous years' issues, with animals on each...

 of Canadian Confederation

Canadian Confederation

Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...

 in 1967 provided the right opportunity and circumstances in which to establish Canada's first order: the Order of Canada

Order of Canada

The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...

. The system has since expanded, mostly through the 1990s, and generally attracted little criticism; indeed, the orders, decorations, and medals of Canada inspired other Commonwealth realm

Commonwealth Realm

A Commonwealth realm is a sovereign state within the Commonwealth of Nations that has Elizabeth II as its monarch and head of state. The sixteen current realms have a combined land area of 18.8 million km² , and a population of 134 million, of which all, except about two million, live in the six...

s, such as Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

 and New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

, to adopt similar approaches in their respective jurisdictions. However, some experts in the field, such as Christopher McCreery

Christopher McCreery

Christopher McCreery, MVO is a Canadian author and historian.Best known for his six books on the Canadian honours system. A native of Kingston Ontario McCreery holds a Doctorate in Canadian history from Queen’s University...

 and Rafal Heydel-Mankoo

Rafal Heydel-Mankoo

Rafal Heydel-Mankoo Rafal Heydel-Mankoo Rafal Heydel-Mankoo (born 1 June 1976, London, England is a London-based free-lance media correspondent on royal affairs, and a writer, commentator and pundit on heraldry, aristocracy, and various honours systems. He was born in the United Kingdom, and...

, have pointed out what they see as deficiencies in the construct: At the 2006 conference on Commonwealth Honours, the concern was raised that Canada does not have a way to recognize the nation's very best; the three grades of the Order of Canada being insufficient to do so. It was suggested that either two more levels be added to the Order of Canada, equivalent to knighthoods in British orders, or create a new single class but limited-membership order, similar to the Order of New Zealand

Order of New Zealand

The Order of New Zealand is the highest honour in New Zealand's honours system, created "to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity"...

. The order of precedence also came under scrutiny, particularly the anomaly that all three grades of the Order of Canada supersede the top levels of each of the other orders, contrary to international practice. McCreery echoed these comments in 2010 and added that the Canadian honours system was lacking a polar medal, such as those issued in other northern nations, as well as a public service order, akin to the Imperial Service Order

Imperial Service Order

The Imperial Service Order was established by King Edward VII in August 1902. It was awarded on retirement to the administration and clerical staff of the Civil Service throughout the British Empire for long and meritorious service. Normally a person must have served for 25 years to become...

, and honours to specifically recognise protective services other than the police forces.

Structure and the creation of honours

All honours in Canada emanate from the country's monarch, who is regarded as the fount of honour

Fount of honour

The fount of honour refers to a nation's head of state, who, by virtue of his or her official position, has the exclusive right of conferring legitimate titles of nobility and orders of chivalry to other persons.- Origin :...

; only he or she may create new honours, though this is generally done on the advice

Advice (constitutional)

Advice, in constitutional law, is formal, usually binding, instruction given by one constitutional officer of state to another. Especially in parliamentary systems of government, Heads of state often act on the basis of advice issued by prime ministers or other government ministers...

 of the sitting ministers of the Crown

Minister of the Crown

Minister of the Crown is the formal constitutional term used in the Commonwealth realms to describe a minister to the reigning sovereign. The term indicates that the minister serves at His/Her Majesty's pleasure, and advises the monarch, or viceroy, on how to exercise the Crown prerogatives...

. The sovereign's representative in Canada, the governor general

Governor General of Canada

The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...

, administers most of the honours system through the Chancellery of Honours, which is a part of the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General of Canada

Secretary to the Governor General of Canada

The Secretary to the Governor General is the head of the Office of the Governor General of Canada and is based at Rideau Hall, Ottawa. The current secretary is Stephen Wallace, appointed in 2011.-Secretaries to the governor general:...

. The governor general also sets out, via Order in Council, the order of precedence

Canadian order of precedence (Decorations and Medals)

The following is the Canadian order of precedence for decorations and medals. Where applicable, post-nominal letters are indicated.-Awards of valour:-National orders:-Provincial orders:-National decorations:-National medals:...

 for the wearing of insignia, decorations, and medals.

The momentum to create a new honour typically originates at either the Chancellery of Honours or the Department of National Defence

Department of National Defence (Canada)

The Department of National Defence , frequently referred to by its acronym DND, is the department within the government of Canada with responsibility for all matters concerning the defence of Canada...

, though private organisations or individuals may also make proposals. The chancellery will investigate whether or not the suggested honour is necessary and if it will conform within the national honours structure. Should it meet these criteria, the notion is put before the Honours Policy Committee (HPC)—a group of senior public servants, formed in 1980 within the Privy Council Office

Queen's Privy Council for Canada

The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...

—and then, if approved, is moved before the Cabinet for an Order in Council to be drawn up. On the prime minister's advice, via the governor general, the documents and drawings for the new honour are presented to the Queen for her consideration; only with her signature on the relevant letters patent

Letters patent

Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...

 and the design sketches does the new honour officially become extant. Any future amendments to the honour's appearance or award criteria do not need the monarch's approval; the governor general will perform such tasks instead.

In the Canadian structure, unlike its British counterpart, nominees names are put forward to the governor general by independent committees, which in turn receive nominations from the public, in an attempt to create a non-partisan process that avoids political controversy. Most orders have a unique advisory committee, consisting of individuals relevant to the scope of the particular order, all appointed by the governor general or a delegate; for instance, the Advisory Committee for the Order of Military Merit has six members: one appointed by the governor general, four by the chief of the Defence Staff

Chief of the Defence Staff (Canada)

The Chief of the Defence Staff is the second most senior member of the Canadian Forces, and heads the Armed Forces Council, having primary responsibility for command, control, and administration of the forces, as well as military strategy, plans, and requirements...

, and the chief of the Defence Staff him or herself. There are also advisory councils or committees for decorations in general and for valour decorations, specifically. The Secretary to the Governor General will usually serve as secretary general to many of these boards.

The Canadian honours system also includes two dynastic orders—the Order of Merit

Order of Merit

The Order of Merit is a British dynastic order recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or for the promotion of culture...

 and the Royal Victorian Order

Royal Victorian Order

The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...

—and one personal award of the sovereign—the Royal Victorian Chain

Royal Victorian Chain

The Royal Victorian Chain is an award, instituted in 1902 by King Edward VII as a personal award of the Monarch...

. These were created by the sovereign alone and inductions and presentations are at his or her personal discretion.

Orders

Orders have a number of grades or classes to acknowledge different levels of achievement. Usually, the insignia for the top grades are worn on a neck ribbon by men and on a pinned bow by women, while those for the lower levels are worn suspended on ribbons attached to the left of the jacket of dress, those for women again usually on a bow. These insignia are presented to the recipient by either the monarch or governor general. Orders are not awarded to individuals, instead one is appointed into membership in a society of honour, and can be promoted to higher grades within the group. The appointment to an order also entitles the appointee to post-nominal letters

Post-nominal letters

Post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials, post-nominal titles or designatory letters, are letters placed after the name of a person to indicate that the individual holds a position, educational degree, accreditation, office, or honour. An individual may use several different sets of...

.

Order of Merit

Admission to the Order of Merit is the highest civilian

Civilian

A civilian under international humanitarian law is a person who is not a member of his or her country's armed forces or other militia. Civilians are distinct from combatants. They are afforded a degree of legal protection from the effects of war and military occupation...

 award for merit in Canada. Founded in 1902 by King Edward VII

Edward VII of the United Kingdom

Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...

 to recognise distinguished service in the armed forces

Armed forces

The armed forces of a country are its government-sponsored defense, fighting forces, and organizations. They exist to further the foreign and domestic policies of their governing body, and to defend that body and the nation it represents from external aggressors. In some countries paramilitary...

, science

Science

Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...

, art

Art

Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....

, literature

Literature

Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...

, or for the promotion of culture

Culture

Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...

, the Order of Merit has one grade and carries with it only the post-nominal letters OM. One of the few dynastic orders in Canada, the society's membership is limited to, at one time, no more than 24 living individuals from any of the 16 Commonwealth realms. Four Canadians have been appointed to the order: William Lyon Mackenzie King

William Lyon Mackenzie King

William Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...

, Wilder Penfield

Wilder Penfield

Wilder Graves Penfield, OM, CC, CMG, FRS was an American born Canadian neurosurgeon. During his life he was called "the greatest living Canadian"...

, Lester B. Pearson

Lester B. Pearson

Lester Bowles "Mike" Pearson, PC, OM, CC, OBE was a Canadian professor, historian, civil servant, statesman, diplomat, and politician, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis...

, and Jean Chrétien

Jean Chrétien

Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....

. There is only one grade to the Order of Merit:

• Member (OM)

Order of Canada

The Order of Canada is the country's highest civilian

Civilian

A civilian under international humanitarian law is a person who is not a member of his or her country's armed forces or other militia. Civilians are distinct from combatants. They are afforded a degree of legal protection from the effects of war and military occupation...

 honour for merit administered by the Governor General-in-Council, on behalf of the monarch of Canada. Created in 1967, appointment is granted to those who adhere to the order's motto Desiderantes meliorem patriam (Latin

Latin

Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...

 for: "desiring a better country"), meaning that, in essence, the honour recognises lifetime contributions made by Canadians who made a major difference to Canada, or non-Canadians who made the world better by their actions. Musicians, politicians, artists, television stars, benefactors, and many more have been accepted into the order; since its creation, more than 5,000 people have been appointed to the Order of Canada. The order, of which the monarch is Sovereign the serving governor general is Chancellor and Principal Companion, is currently composed of three grades:

• Companion (CC)
• Officer (OC)
• Member (CM)

Order of Military Merit

The Order of Military Merit is a society of members of the Canadian Forces

Canadian Forces

The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...

 who have demonstrated dedication and devotion beyond the call of duty. Established in 1972 by Queen Elizabeth II, who serves as the order's Sovereign, with the governor general as the Chancellor and the chief of the Defence Staff as Principal Commander, the award has three classes:

• Commander (CMM)
• Officer (OMM)
• Member (MMM)

Order of Merit of the Police Forces

Members of Canada's various police bodies who have demonstrated conspicuous merit and exceptional service are inducted into the Order of Merit of the Police Forces , which was created in 2000 by Queen Elizabeth II. As with the Order of Military Merit, the reigning monarch is the Sovereign of the order, while the governor general is the Chancellor and the commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...

 acts as Principal Commander. The order has three grades:

• Commander (COM)
• Officer (OOM)
• Member (MOM)

Royal Victorian Order

The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order established in 1896 by Queen Victoria

Victoria of the United Kingdom

Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....

 to recognise those who performed exemplary personal service for the sovereign. The order's day is 20 June, the date of Victoria's accession to the throne, and its motto is Victoria. The structure includes five classes, though the levels of Knight or Dame Grand Cross and Knight or Dame Commander, available to all in other Commonwealth realms, are not normally open to Canadian citizens, due to the titles that come with appointment to those grades and the Cabinet's adherence to the Nickle Resolution. Members of the Canadian Royal Family, however, as subjects of the Canadian monarch but not citizens of Canada, can, and do, occupy the two uppermost grades. The order's classes, in order of seniority, are:

• Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GCVO)
• Knight or Dame Commander (KCVO or DCVO)
• Commander (CVO)
• Lieutenant (LVO)
• Member (MVO)

Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem

The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem is a working order of charitably minded men and women whose philanthropy is expressed principally through its two foundations: the St. John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem and St. John Ambulance

St. John Ambulance

St John Ambulance, branded as St John in some territories, is a common name used by a number of affiliated organisations in different countries dedicated to the teaching and practice of medical first aid and the provision of ambulance services, all of which derive their origins from the St John...

. The order traces its origins to the Knights Hospitaller

Knights Hospitaller

The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...

 of the Crusades

Crusades

The Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...

, who served the Abbey of St. Mary's small hospital for sick pilgrims in Jerusalem in the 12th century. It was established in the United Kingdom in 1831 and given a royal charter by Queen Victoria in 1888, and has existed in Canada in some form for many years, but was only officially brought into the Canadian honours system in 1995. The governor general is the Prior and Chief Officer in Canada, while the lieutenant governors serve as Vice-Prior in their respective province. Each is also automatically appointed as a Knight or Dame of Justice or Grace upon being sworn into their viceregal office. Members of the Royal Family may also hold the level of Bailiffs or Dames Grand Cross, with the post-nominal letters GCStJ.

Currently, there are approximately 5,500 active Canadian members in the Order, induction being granted by nomination only to Canadian citizens or permanent residents at or over the age of 18. This is done at the discretion of the Sovereign Head of the Order, Queen Elizabeth II, on the advice of the Prior.

In Canada, the order has five grades:

• Bailiffs or Dames Grand Cross (GCStJ)
• Knight or Dame (KStJ or DStJ)
• Commander (CStJ)
• Officer (OStJ)
• Serving Member (SBStJ or SSStJ)

Decorations

Decorations are awarded for gallantry, civilian bravery, or meritorious services; only the Royal Victorian Medal

Royal Victorian Order

The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...

 (post-nominal letters

Post-nominal letters

Post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials, post-nominal titles or designatory letters, are letters placed after the name of a person to indicate that the individual holds a position, educational degree, accreditation, office, or honour. An individual may use several different sets of...

 RVM), a decoration associated with the Royal Victorian Order, is not slotted into any of the three aforementioned categories. They are similar to national orders, are created by the sovereign and conferred by her or her viceroy, and are worn on the left side of the jacket or dress. Decorations also entitle the recipient to post-nominal letters.

Military valour decorations

The military valour decorations were created on 2 February 1993 by Queen Elizabeth II, on the advice of her Cabinet under then prime minister Brian Mulroney

Brian Mulroney

Martin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...

. For all three military valour decorations, recipients must be a member of the Canadian Forces

Canadian Forces

The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...

 or an allied armed force that is serving with or in conjunction with the Canadian Forces, on or after 1 January 1993. All military valour decorations may be awarded posthumously.

The Victoria Cross

Victoria Cross (Canada)

The Victoria Cross is a military decoration of Canada modelled on the original British Victoria Cross—instituted in 1856—in both intent and appearance, with several small changes...

 (post-nominal letters VC) is the highest award for valour available to members of the Canadian Forces of any rank, in any service, and allies serving under or with Canadian military command. Based on the British version

Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....

 of the same medal, it is only awarded for extraordinary valour and devotion to duty while facing a hostile force. Prior to 1993, the original Victoria Cross was awarded to 94 Canadians, none of whom are now living; since its creation, no Canadian Victoria Cross has been issued.

The Star of Military Valour

Star of Military Valour

The Star of Military Valour is a decoration that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the second highest award for military valour, and one of three honours for military valour gifted by the Canadian monarch, generally through his or her viceroy-in-Council...

 (post-nominal letters SMV) was created as an award for Canadian Forces personnel who had demonstrated "distinguished and valiant service in the presence of the enemy." The star may be presented more than once, an additional bar on the medal's ribbon marking each subsequent award. It was only first presented in 2006, as Canada's participation in the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan

Canada's role in the invasion of Afghanistan

Canada did not have a significant role in the first few months of the invasion of Afghanistan that began on October 7, 2001, and the first contingents of regular Canadian troops arrived in Afghanistan only in January–February 2002. Canada took on a larger role starting in 2006 after the Canadian...

 created for the first time circumstances wherein one could carry out actions deserving of the Star of Military Valour.

The Medal of Military Valour

Medal of Military Valour

The Medal of Military Valour is a decoration that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the third highest award for military valour, and one of three honours for military valour gifted by the Canadian monarch, generally through his or her viceroy-in-Council...

 (post-nominal letters MMV) is awarded to members of the Canadian Forces for "an act of valour or devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy." The medal, too, was only first awarded in 2006 and may be earned multiple times, marked by the addition of bars to the medal's ribbon.

Bravery decorations

Established on 1 May 1972 by Queen Elizabeth II, on the advice of her Cabinet headed by Pierre Trudeau

Pierre Trudeau

Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...

, the bravery decorations

Canadian Bravery Decorations

The Canadian Bravery Decorations are a group of Canadian medals awarded for bravery. They are part of the Canadian Honour System created in 1967. The awards themselves were established in 1972...

 are awarded to any person who risked his or her life to save or protect another person; it is not necessary that the incident take place in Canada, and no particular person must be Canadian, but it is required that at least one individual involved in the occurrence be a Canadian citizen. Nominations must be made within two years of the incident, or within two years after a court or a coroner has concluded its review on the circumstances surrounding the incident or act of bravery, and each decoration may be awarded posthumously.
The Cross of Valour

Cross of Valour (Canada)

The Cross of Valour is a decoration that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the second highest award , the highest honour available for Canadian civilians, and the highest of the three Canadian Bravery Decorations...

 (post-nominal letters CV) is the highest ranking of the Canadian bravery decorations, and is awarded for "acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril." It was intended to both replace the never-issued Medal of Courage of the Order of Canada, and to act as the Canadian equivalent of the George Cross

George Cross

The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...

. It was presented for the first time on 20 July 1972.

Presented to both living and deceased individuals deemed to have performed "acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril," the Star of Courage

Star of Courage (Canada)

The Star of Courage is a decoration that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the second highest award for bravery, and one of the three Canadian Bravery Decorations gifted by the Canadian monarch, generally through his or her viceroy-in-Council...

 (post-nominal letters SC) is the second-highest ranking of Canadian bravery decorations. As of August 2009, the Star of Courage has been presented to 417 people, though no bars have yet been issued.

The Medal of Bravery (post-nominal letters MB) is the third rank of the bravery decorations, awarded in recognition of "acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances," and has been awarded most frequently; as of August 2009, 2,478 medals had been distributed, though no bars were issued.

Meritorious service decorations

The meritous service decorations are each divided into military and civilian categories, which each may be awarded to both Canadians and non-Canadians. The set of awards was initially formed on 11 June 1984 by Queen Elizabeth II, on the advice of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, but consisted of decorations available only to Canadian Forces personnel; it was on 6 June 1991 that the civilian classifications were added.

The Meritorious Service Cross

Meritorious Service Cross

The Meritorious Service Cross is a decoration that is, within the Canadian system of honours, one of the two Meritorious Service Decorations gifted by the Canadian monarch, generally through his or her viceroy-in-Council...

 (post-nominal letters MSC) is intended to recognize individuals—both Canadian and foreign—who have carried out meritorious acts bringing benefit and honour. The military division recognises highly professional acts that are of considerable benefit to the Canadian Forces, while its civilian counterpart honours similar acts—whether in athletics, diplomatic relations, humanitarian activities, etc.—that benefit the nation.

The Meritorious Service Medal

Meritorious Service Medal (Canada)

The Meritorious Service Medal is a decoration that is, within the Canadian system of honours, one of the two Meritorious Service Decorations gifted by the Canadian monarch, generally through his or her viceroy-in-Council...

 (post-nominal letters MSM) is the secondary meritorious service decoration and recognises highly professional acts that are of considerable benefit to the Canadian Forces by military personnel, and to the nation by civilians.

Medals

Canada has various types of medals, some part of the official honours system and others not. Those in the former category tend to be related to state organisations, such as police

Police

The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...

 forces, fire protection, or the military. These can be further sub-categorised into long service and campaign medals. Others are awarded to military and civilians alike for anniversaries—the Canadian Centennial or the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II, for example—or for community service. Still others are awarded by international organisations and integrated into the Canadian honours structure; the United Nations Medal

United Nations Medal

The term United Nations Medal refers to one of several international decorations which are issued by the United Nations to the various militaries of the world for participation in joint international military and police operations such as peacekeeping, humanitarian efforts, and disaster relief...

s and North Atlantic Treaty Organization medals, for example. As medals are awarded more widely than orders or decorations, they are typically presented by higher ranking officials in the organization the recipient is a part of. Only the Canadian Forces Decoration grants a holder the use of post-nominal letters.

Commemorative medals

Until 1977, the practice for coronation and jubilee medals was for authorities in the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 to decide on a total number of medallions to be produced and allocate how many were to be distributed to each of the British Empire

British Empire

The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...

 and Crown dependencies

Crown dependency

The Crown Dependencies are British possessions of the Crown, as opposed to overseas territories of the United Kingdom. They comprise the Channel Island Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey in the English Channel, and the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea....

 and possessions, and later Commonwealth of Nations

Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...

 countries. From that point, the award of the medals was at the discretion of the local government authority. Such medals are awarded to Canadians who have been deemed to have made a significant contribution to their fellow citizens, their community or to Canada. So that all regions of the country are recognised equally, the federal, provincial, and civic governments all forward names to Rideau Hall, as do private organizations in the fields of the arts, sports, philanthropy, and charity. The full membership of the Order of Canada and Order of Military Merit, as well as all winners of Canadian bravery decorations will typlically also receive commemorative medals automatically, while for members of the Canadian Forces, merit with length of service and prestige of current appointment is considered. Such medals presently recognised in the Canadian honours system are:

• Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
  Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
  The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.-Issue:For Coronation and Jubilee medals, the practice up until 1977 was that United Kingdom authorities decided on a total number to be produced, then allocated a proportion to...
  
  : marking the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, 1953
• Canadian Centennial Medal
  Canadian Centennial Medal
  The Canadian Centennial Medal is a commemorative medal struck by the Royal Canadian Mint in 1967 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation and was awarded to Canadians who were recommended by governments and professional, educational and cultural associations, as well as...
  
  : marking the 100th anniversary of Canadian Confederation
  Canadian Centennial
  The Canadian Centennial was a year long celebration held in 1967 when Canada celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation. Celebrations occurred throughout the year but culminated on Dominion Day, July 1. 1967 coins were different from previous years' issues, with animals on each...
  
  , 1967
• Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal
  Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal
  The Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 1977 to mark the 25th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II...
  
  : marking the 25th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II
  Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II
  The Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II marked the 25th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the throne of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other Commonwealth realms...
  
  , 1977
• 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal
  125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal
  The 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal is a commemorative medal struck by the Royal Canadian Mint celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada...
  
  : marking the 125th anniversary of Canadian Confederation
  Canadian Confederation
  Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
  
  , 1992
• Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal
  Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal
  The Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 2002 to mark the 50th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II...
  
  : marking the 50th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II
  Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II
  The Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II was the international celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the accession of Elizabeth II to the thrones of seven countries, upon the death of her father, George VI, on 6 February 1952, and was intended by the Queen to be both a commemoration of her 50...
  
  , 2002
• Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
  Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
  The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal is a commemorative medal created in 2011 to mark the 60th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II and to "honour significant contributions and achievements by Canadians."-Design:...
  
  : marking the 60th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II
  Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II
  The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II is the forthcoming international celebration in 2012 marking the 60th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the thrones of seven countries, upon the death of her father, King George VI, on 6 February 1952...
  
  , 2012

Earlier commemorative medals for Canada or given to Canadians included:

• Confederation Medal: marking the confederation of Canada, 1867
• Queen Victoria Golden Jubilee Medal: marking the 50th anniversary of the accession of Queen Victoria, 1887
• Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Medal: marking the 60th anniversary of the accession of Queen Victoria, 1897
• King Edward VII Coronation Medal
  King Edward VII Coronation Medal
  The King Edward VII Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal issued in 1902 to commemorate the coronation of King Edward VII.-Issue:The medal was only awarded to people who attended the coronation, or participated in the coronation parade...
  
  : marking the coronation of King Edward VII
  Edward VII of the United Kingdom
  Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
  
  , 1902
• King George V Coronation Medal
  King George V Coronation Medal
  The King George V Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal made in 1911 to celebrate the coronation of George V.-Issue:This coronation medal was the first to be issued to people who were not in attendance at the coronation...
  
  : marking the coronation of King George V
  George V of the United Kingdom
  George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
  
  , 1911
• Confederation Diamond Jubilee Medal: marking the 60th anniversary of Canadian Confederation, 1927
• King George V Silver Jubilee Medal
  King George V Silver Jubilee Medal
  The King George V Silver Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the coronation of King George V.-Issue:...
  
  : marking the 25th anniversary of the accession of King George V, 1935
• King George VI Coronation Medal
  King George VI Coronation Medal
  The King George VI Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the coronation of King George VI.-Issue:For Coronation and Jubilee medals, the practice up until 1977 was that United Kingdom authorities decided on a total number to be produced, then allocated a proportion to each of...
  
  : marking the coronation of King George VI
  George VI of the United Kingdom
  George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
  
  , 1937

Campaign medals

Canada's campaign medal

Campaign medal

A campaign medal is a military decoration which is awarded to a member of the military who serves in a designated military operation or performs duty in a geographical theater...

s are a continuation of the tradition of the monarch recognising service in a designated military operation

Military operation

Military operation is the coordinated military actions of a state in response to a developing situation. These actions are designed as a military plan to resolve the situation in the state's favor. Operations may be of combat or non-combat types, and are referred to by a code name for the purpose...

 or performance of duty in a geographical theatre; save for the General Campaign Stars and Medals, each is associated with a particular conflict. The general star and medal are issued for any active service in a combat zone, which one or ones being distinguished by additional clasps that are worn on the medal's ribbon. Such medals presently recognised in the Canadian honours system are:

• Korea Medal
  Korea Medal
  The Korea Medal , sometimes referred to as the Queen's Korea Medal to distinguish it from the United Nations Service Medal, was a campaign medal created in 1951 to recognize troops from the various Commonwealth realms, except South Africa, who had given either one day's service in Korea or 28 days...
  
  : recognising combat service in the Korean War
  Korean War
  The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
  
  , 1950–1953
• Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea
  Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea
  The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea was a campaign medal created in 1991 by the Canadian monarch-in-Council to recognize former members of the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy, and Royal Canadian Air Force who had volunteered to participate in the Korean War, either on the Korean...
  
  : recognising non-combat service in the Korea War, 1950–1953
• Gulf and Kuwait Medal: recognising service in the Gulf War
  Gulf War
  The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
  
  , 1990–1991
• Somalia Medal
  Somalia Medal
  The Somalia Medal was a campaign medal created in 1992 by the Canadian monarch-in-Council to recognize members of the Canadian Forces who had directly participated in the United Nations effort to stabilize Somalia following the outbreak of its civil war...
  
  : recognising service in the Somali Civil War
  Somali Civil War
  The Somali Civil War is an ongoing civil war taking place in Somalia. The conflict, which began in 1991, has caused destabilisation throughout the country, with the current phase of the conflict seeing the Somali government losing substantial control of the state to rebel forces...
  
  , 1992–1993
• South-West Asia Service Medal
  South-West Asia Service Medal (Canada)
  The South-West Asia Service Medal is a campaign medal created in 2002 by the Canadian monarch-in-Council to recognize members of the Canadian Forces who had directly participated in efforts to combat terrorism in Southwest Asia following the Al-Qaeda attacks on the United States in 2001...
  
  : recognising service in campaigns against terrorism in South-West Asia, 2001-
• General Campaign Star
  General Campaign Star (Canada)
  The General Campaign Star is a campaign medal created in 2004 by the Canadian monarch-in-Council to recognize members of the Canadian Forces who had directly participated in any military campaign under Canadian or allied command...
  
  : recognising combat service in other campaigns; bars for:
  • Service in Operation Allied Force
    1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia
    The NATO bombing of Yugoslavia was NATO's military operation against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War. The strikes lasted from March 24, 1999 to June 10, 1999...
    
    , 1999
  • Service in the International Security Assistance Force
    International Security Assistance Force
    The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
    
    , 2003
• General Service Medal
  General Service Medal (Canada)
  The General Service Medal is a service medal of Canada established by Her Majesty The Queen in March 2004 and presented for the first time on 29 November 2004...
  
  : recognising non-combat service in other campaigns; same bars issued
  • Service in Operation Allied Force, 1999
  • Service in the International Security Assistance Force, 2003
• Operational Service Medal
  Operational Service Medal (Canada)
  The Operational Service Medal is a campaign medal created in 2010 by the Canadian monarch-in-Council to recognize members of the Canadian Forces, allied forces, Canadian police officers, or Canadian civilians working for the Canadian Forces who had directly participated in any military campaign...
  
  : recognising combat and non-combat service in various campaigns; ribbons for:
  • South-West Asia
  • Sierra Leone
  • Haiti
  • Sudan
  • Humanitas
  • Expedition

Canadians earlier qualified for British campaign medals

British campaign medals

British campaign medals are awarded to members of the British Armed Forces, Allied forces and civilians participating in specified military campaigns...

, though these awards were, at the time, not foreign to Canada. Some were created specifically for Canada, such as the Canadian General Service Medal, which was issued in 1899 to recognise active participation in defending the country from the Fenian raids

Fenian raids

Between 1866 and 1871, the Fenian raids of the Fenian Brotherhood who were based in the United States; on British army forts, customs posts and other targets in Canada, were fought to bring pressure on Britain to withdraw from Ireland. They divided many Catholic Irish-Canadians, many of whom were...

 and later in suppressing the Red River Rebellion

Red River Rebellion

The Red River Rebellion or Red River Resistance was the sequence of events related to the 1869 establishment of a provisional government by the Métis leader Louis Riel and his followers at the Red River Settlement, in what is now the Canadian province of Manitoba.The Rebellion was the first crisis...

.

Sacrifice medals

Within the Canadian system of honours are medals that specifically recognise death or severe injury in the course of military service. The Memorial Cross

Memorial Cross

The Memorial Cross , often known as the Silver Cross, is a Canadian medal awarded to the mother, widow, widower, or next of kin of any member of the Canadian Forces who loses his or her life in active service, including peacekeeping, and other such international operations.-Design:The Memorial...

  was created in 1919 by King George V

George V of the United Kingdom

George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....

 to be awarded to the mother

Mother

A mother, mum, mom, momma, or mama is a woman who has raised a child, given birth to a child, and/or supplied the ovum that grew into a child. Because of the complexity and differences of a mother's social, cultural, and religious definitions and roles, it is challenging to specify a universally...

, widow

Widow

A widow is a woman whose spouse has died, while a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed widowhood or occasionally viduity. The adjective form is widowed...

, widower, or next of kin

Next of kin

Next of kin is a term with many interpretations depending on the jurisdiction being referred to. In some jurisdictions, such as the United States, it is used to describe a person's closest living blood relative or relatives...

 of any member of the Canadian Forces

Canadian Forces

The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...

 who loses his or her life in active service, including peacekeeping, and other such international operations. From amongst the recipients of the medal has been drawn annually the Silver Cross Mother

Silver Cross Mother

A Silver Cross Mother is chosen each year by the Royal Canadian Legion to lay a wreath during the Remembrance Day ceremony at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on behalf of all mothers who have lost children in the service of their country. The title is named for the Silver Cross, a medal awarded...

. Later, in 2008, Queen Elizabeth II approved the establishment of the Sacrifice Medal

Sacrifice Medal

The Sacrifice Medal is a decoration that was created in 2008 as a replacement for the Wound Stripe, being gifted by the Canadian monarch, generally through his or her viceroy-in-Council, to members of the Canadian Forces or allied forces who were wounded or killed in action.-Design:The Sacrifice...

  as a replacement for the Wound Stripe

Wound stripe

A wound stripe is a distinction of dress bestowed on soldiers wounded in combat. It was typically worn on military uniform jackets.-France:In the French Army, the wound bar or Insigne des blessés militaires, was awarded beginning in 1916....

, to be presented to any member of the Canadian Forces or allied forces who were wounded or killed in action.

Special service medals

• Special Service Medal
  Special Service Medal (Canada)
  The Special Service Medal is a service medal awarded to members of the Canadian Forces. The medal was established by letters patent by Queen Elizabeth II on 16 June 1984. Recipients of this medal must have performed, "service under exceptional circumstances in a specifically defined location for...
  
  
• Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal
  Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal
  The Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal is a campaign medal created in 1988 to recognize the contributions of all Canadian Peacekeepers towards the ultimate goal of peace, after the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations was awarded that year's Nobel Peace Prize.-History:In 1988, the...
  
  

Exemplary service medals

• Police Exemplary Service Medal
• Corrections Exemplary Service Medal
• Fire Services Exemplary Service Medal
• Canadian Coast Guard Exemplary Service Medal
• Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal
• Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal

Long service and good conduct medals

• Royal Canadian Mounted Police Long Service Medal
  Royal Canadian Mounted Police Long Service Medal
  The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Long Service Medal was established by royal warrant on 6 March 1934 by King George V. It is the oldest continually awarded honour within the Canadian honours system, and the first created specifically for Canadian service within Canada...
  
  
• Service Medal of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem
• Commissionaire Long Service Medal

Canadian Forces Decoration

The Canadian Forces Decoration (post-nominal letters

Post-nominal letters

Post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials, post-nominal titles or designatory letters, are letters placed after the name of a person to indicate that the individual holds a position, educational degree, accreditation, office, or honour. An individual may use several different sets of...

 CD) is given members of the Canadian Forces

Canadian Forces

The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...

 of all ranks who have completed twelve years of military service. By convention, it is also given to the Governor General of Canada

Governor General of Canada

The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...

 upon his or her appointment as viceroy, which includes the designation of the title of Commander-in-Chief in and over Canada. Despite its name, the Canadian Forces Decoration is a medal as opposed to a decoration.

Other

• Queen's Medal for Champion Shot
• Governor General's Academic Medal
  Governor General's Academic Medal
  The Governor General's Academic Medal is awarded to the student graduating with the highest grade point average from a Canadian high school, college or university program...
  
  
• Governor General's Northern Medal
  Governor General's Northern Medal
  The Governor General's Northern Medal was created by Adrienne Clarkson on September 15, 2005, to provide awards to those who serve with distinction in Canada's north.The medal was designed by Cathy Bursey-Sabourin and the design consists of:...
  
  
• Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service
  Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service
  The Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service is awarded by the Chief of the Defence Staff in recognition of outstanding service, performed by individuals and groups who are not active members of the Canadian Forces...
  
  

Peerages

A number of distinctly Canadian titles have been granted by the sovereign. These include (with existent ones in italics):

• Baron de Longueuil
  Baron de Longueuil
  The title Baron de Longueuil is the only currently-extant French colonial title that is recognized by Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Canada. The title was granted originally by King Louis XIV of France to a Norman military officer, Charles le Moyne de Longueuil, and its continuing recognition since...
  
  , named for Longueuil, Quebec
  Longueuil, Quebec
  Longueuil is a city in the province of Quebec, Canada. It is the seat of the Montérégie administrative region and sits on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River directly across from Montreal. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census totaled 229,330, making it the third largest city in...
  
  . Created in 1700, the present holder is Michael Grant
  Michael Grant, 12th Baron de Longueuil
  Michael Charles Grant, 12th Baron de Longueuil is a nobleman possessing the only French colonial title recognized by the King or Queen of Canada.-Assumption of title and royal connection:...
  
  , the 12th Baron de Longueuil.
• Baron Mount Stephen (of Mount Stephen in the Province of British Columbia and Dominion of Canada, and of Dufftown in the County of Banff), named for Mount Stephen
  Mount Stephen
  Mount Stephen is a mountain located in the Kicking Horse River Valley of Yoho National Park, ½ km east of Field. The mountain was named in 1886 for George Stephen, the first president of the Canadian Pacific Railway....
  
  , British Columbia
  British Columbia
  British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
  
  . Created in 1891, the title is extinct, the last and only holder being George Stephen
  George Stephen, 1st Baron Mount Stephen
  George Stephen, 1st Baron of Mount Stephen , known as Sir Stephen, between 1778 and 1891.-Canadian Pacific Railway syndicate:...
  
  .
• Baron Macdonald of Earnscliffe (in the Province of Ontario and Dominion of Canada), named for Earnscliffe
  Earnscliffe
  Earnscliffe is a Victorian manor in Ottawa, Ontario. It is currently home of the British High Commissioner to Canada, and it was previously home to Canada's first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. The manor overlooks the Ottawa River just east of the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge. It is located...
  
   in Ottawa
  Ottawa
  Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
  
  , Ontario
  Ontario
  Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
  
  . Created in 1891, the title is extinct, the last and only holder being Agnes Macdonald.
• Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal
  Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal
  Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal, of Mount Royal in the Province of Quebec and Dominion of Canada and of Glencoe in the County of Argyll, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom...
  
  (of Mount Royal in the Province of Quebec and Dominion of Canada and of Glencoe in the County of Argyll), named for Strathcona County, Alberta
  Strathcona County, Alberta
  Strathcona County is a specialized municipality in central Alberta, Canada between Edmonton and Elk Island National Park.It is located in Division No. 11 and is also part of the Edmonton Census Metropolitan Area. More than half of the population lives in Sherwood Park, a large community east of...
  
   and Mount Royal
  Mount Royal
  Mount Royal is a mountain in the city of Montreal, immediately west of downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the city to which it gave its name.The mountain is part of the Monteregian Hills situated between the Laurentians and the Appalachians...
  
  , Quebec
  Quebec
  Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
  
  . Created in 1900, the present holder is Euan Howard
  Euan Howard, 4th Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal
  Donald Euan Palmer Howard, 4th Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal , is a British Conservative politician.Howard is the eldest son of Donald Howard, 3rd Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal, and his wife the Hon. Diana Evelyn, daughter of Gerald Loder, 1st Baron Wakehurst...
  
  , the fourth Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal.
• Baron Shaughnessy
  Baron Shaughnessy
  Baron Shaughnessy, of the City of Montreal in the Dominion of Canada and of Ashford in the County of Limerick, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1916 for the businessman and public servant Thomas Shaughnessy, president of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company...
  
  (of the City of Montreal in the Dominion of Canada and of Ashford in the County of Limerick), named for Shaughnessy, British Columbia
  British Columbia
  British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
  
  . Created in 1916, the present holder is Charles Shaughnessy
  Charles Shaughnessy
  Charles George Patrick Shaughnessy, 5th Baron Shaughnessy , simply known as Charles Shaughnessy, is a British peer, and television, theatre and film actor. He is known for his roles on American television, as Shane Donovan on the soap opera Days of our Lives and as Maxwell Sheffield on the sitcom...
  
  , the fifth Baron Shaughnessy.
• Baron Beaverbrook
  Baron Beaverbrook
  Baron Beaverbrook, of Beaverbrook in the Province of New Brunswick in the Dominion of Canada and of Cherkley in the County of Surrey, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1917 for the prominent media owner and politician Sir Max Aitken, 1st Baronet. He had already been...
  
  (of Beaverbrook in the Province of New Brunswick in the Dominion of Canada and of Cherkley in the County of Surrey), named for Beaverbrook, New Brunswick
  New Brunswick
  New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
  
  . Created in 1917, the present holder is Maxwell Aitken
  Maxwell Aitken, 3rd Baron Beaverbrook
  Maxwell William Humphrey Aitken, 3rd Baron Beaverbrook, is a British peer, baronet and politician.Aitken is the grandson of the 1st Baron Beaverbrook and the only son of Sir Max Aitken, by his third marriage to Violet de Trafford....
  
  , the third Baron Beaverbrook.
• Baron Atholstan (of Huntingdon in the Province of Quebec in the Dominion of Canada and of the City of Edinburgh), named for Huntingdon, Quebec
  Huntingdon, Quebec
  Huntingdon is a small town in Huntingdon County in the Haut-Saint-Laurent Regional County Municipality and the Montérégie region of the province of Quebec, Canada. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 2,587...
  
  . Created in 1917, the title is extinct, the last and only holder being Hugh Graham
  Hugh Graham, 1st Baron Atholstan
  Hugh Graham, 1st Baron Atholstan , was a Canadian newspaper publisher.-Biography:Born in Athelstan , Huntingdon County, Quebec, Graham was the son of Robert Walker Graham, a Scottish land owner, and his wife, Marion, daughter of Colonel Thomas McLeay Gardner.He was educated at the Huntingdon...
  
  .
• Viscount Bennett (of Mickleham in the County of Surrey and of Calgary and Hopewell in the Dominion of Canada), named for Mickleham, Surrey
  Mickleham, Surrey
  Mickleham is a village and civil parish between the towns of Dorking and Leatherhead in Surrey, England covering . The parish includes the hamlet of Fredley.-History:Mickleham lies near to the old Roman road known as Stane Street...
  
  ; Hopewell Hill, New Brunswick
  Hopewell Hill, New Brunswick
  Hopewell Hill is a Canadian rural community in Albert County, New Brunswick.It is most famous for being the birthplace of the Right Honourable Richard Bedford Bennett, 1st Viscount Bennett, PC , KC , LL.B , who was the eleventh Prime Minister of Canada from August 7, 1930 to October 23,...
  
  ; and Calgary, Alberta. Created in 1941, the title is extinct, the last and only holder being Richard Bedford Bennett
  R. B. Bennett
  Richard Bedford Bennett, 1st Viscount Bennett, PC, KC was a Canadian lawyer, businessman, politician, and philanthropist. He served as the 11th Prime Minister of Canada from August 7, 1930, to October 23, 1935, during the worst of the Great Depression years...
  
  .

Members of the Canadian Royal Family, other than the sovereign, also hold peerages, though these were granted by letters patent

Letters patent

Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...

 issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom and are used in Canada as courtesy title

Courtesy title

A courtesy title is a form of address in systems of nobility used for children, former wives and other close relatives of a peer. These styles are used 'by courtesy' in the sense that the relatives do not themselves hold substantive titles...

s. Further, Sylvana Tomaselli

Sylvana Windsor, Countess of St Andrews

Sylvana Palma Windsor, Countess of St Andrews , is the wife of George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews, the eldest son and heir of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent. Lady St Andrews was born in Placentia, Newfoundland and Labrador, the daughter of Maximilian Karl Tomaselli, formerly of Salzburg, and Josiane...

, a Canadian citizen, has been known as Countess of St. Andrews since her marriage to George Windsor

George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews

George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews is the son of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and his wife, Katharine, Duchess of Kent...

, who uses the courtesy title Earl of St. Andrews, a subsidiary title of his father, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent

Prince Edward, Duke of Kent

The Duke of Kent graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on 29 July 1955 as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Scots Greys, the beginning of a military career that would last over 20 years. He was promoted to captain on 29 July 1961. The Duke of Kent saw service in Hong Kong from 1962–63...

, a grandson of King George V

George V of the United Kingdom

George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....

. Upon the death of the Duke of Kent, is it expected that George will succeed to the title and Sylvana will become Duchess of Kent, Countess of St. Andrews, and Baroness Downpatrick, though her eldest son, Edward, also a citizen of Canada and the present Lord Downpatrick, and his wife, if any, will then use the titles Earl and Countess of St. Andrews as a courtesy title and their eldest son, if any, would be known as Lord Downpatrick. Also, Karen Gordon

Karen Gordon

Karen Spencer, Countess Spencer , also known as Karen Gordon, is a Canadian social entrepreneur and former model...

, a Canadian citizen, became Countess Spencer upon her marriage in 2011 to the Earl Spencer

Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer

Charles Edward Maurice Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, DL , styled Viscount Althorp between 1975 and 1992, is a British peer and brother of Diana, Princess of Wales...

, brother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales

Diana, Princess of Wales

Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...

.

There are also 120 Baronets of Nova Scotia. Created 1625-1706, these baronets technically represent the baronets (Bt./Btss.) of Canada.

Arms, flags, and badges

The Canadian Heraldic Authority

Canadian Heraldic Authority

The Canadian Heraldic Authority is part of the Canadian honours system under the Queen of Canada, whose authority is exercised by the Governor General. The Authority is responsible for the creation and granting of new coats of arms , flags and badges for Canadian citizens, permanent residents and...

 (CHA), which grants coats of arms

Coat of arms

A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...

 (armorial bearings), flag

Flag

A flag is a piece of fabric with a distinctive design that is usually rectangular and used as a symbol, as a signaling device, or decoration. The term flag is also used to refer to the graphic design employed by a flag, or to its depiction in another medium.The first flags were used to assist...

s and badges

Heraldic badge

A heraldic badge is an emblem or personal device worn as a badge to indicate allegiance to or the property of an individual or family. Medieval forms are usually called a livery badge, and also a cognizance...

 to Canadian citizens, permanent residents and corporate bodies, forms a part of the Canadian honours system; the granting of arms is regarded as an honour from the monarch, via the Governor General, and thus are bestowed only on those whom the Chief Herald has deemed individuals worthy of receiving a grant of arms.

See also

• List of Canadian awards
• List of awards presented by the Governor General of Canada
• List of post-nominal letters in Canada
• Commonwealth realms orders and decorations
  Commonwealth Realms orders and decorations
  This article concerns the orders and decorations of the Commonwealth realms awarded by the sovereign in right of each nation.Awards are listed by order of wear.-Antigua and Barbuda:* The Most Exalted Order of the National Hero...
  
  

External links

• Modern Honours of Canada - Veteran Affairs Canada
• Canadian Forces Administrative Order 18-4 Recommendations for Canadian Orders, Decorations and Military Honours
• The Gallantry Medallists' League