List of Canadian provincial and territorial orders
Encyclopedia
The orders, decorations, and medals of the Canadian provinces, in which each province
of Canada
has devised a system of orders and awards
to honour residents for actions or deeds that benefit their local community or province, are in turn subsumed within the Canadian honours system. Each province sets their own rules and criteria on eligibility and also how each medal is awarded and presented. Most of the orders allow for the recipient to wear their orders in public, and most grant the recipients the use of post-nominal letters
in their names.
, created for the province's centennial in 1957, and reformed into the Order of the Dogwood
in 1966. After the establishment of the Canadian honours system in 1967, the rest of the provinces, recognizing the Crown's distinct operation within each provincial jurisdiction
, moved to establish their own honours after Ottawa declined to do so on their behalf. Ontario
was the first, creating the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship
in 1973, and the Police and Firefighter's Bravery Medals in 1975 and 1976, respectively. Alberta
followed with the Alberta Order of Excellence
in 1979. Quebec
was the first province to establish a true order: l'Ordre national du Quebec
in 1984. The Order of Ontario
came in 1986, the Order of British Columbia
in 1989 (which replaced the Order of the Dogwood), the Order of Prince Edward Island
in 1997, the Order of Manitoba
in 1999, and the Order of Nova Scotia
, of New Brunswick
, and of Newfoundland and Labrador
in 2001. However, the federal government did not recognize these honours and decorations, fearing duplications and citing the fact that, aside from the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Queen had not authorized them. The provinces responded by stating that since provincial ministers did not constitutionally have the right to advise the sovereign directly, they would do so via legislation under the prerogative of the provincial Crown. The federal government finally came to recognize provincial orders after a compromise was reached between Governor General
Ray Hnatyshyn
and Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan
Sylvia Fedoruk
, wherein provincial honours established by legislation or order in council would be ranked below all national honours, but above national decorations.
In all provinces except Quebec the provincial honours are presented by the relevant Lieutenant Governor.
Most provincial orders only have one grade, or level, which is membership. The only province that has a multi-level order system is Quebec
: the National Order of Quebec has three grades (in descending order of grade): Grand Officer (GOQ), Officer (OQ), and Knight (CQ).
The Canadian Forces
has listed the following orders to be worn in the following manner: National Order of Quebec, Saskatchewan Order of Merit, Order of Ontario, Order of British Columbia, Alberta Order of Excellence, Order of Prince Edward Island, Order of Manitoba, Order of New Brunswick, Order of Nova Scotia and the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador. However, the CF has stated that while this is the order of sequence on a ribbon bar, it is unlikely or even impossible that a member will receive a medal or an order from all Canadian provinces.
Various people who have been awarded provincial orders have been presented with national decorations and orders, such as the Order of Canada
. An example of this would be Gordon Lightfoot
being awarded the Order of Ontario. Lightfoot is also a Companion of the Order of Canada. Each province has a limit on how many can be awarded with their order per year. Ontario places no limit on the number that can be distributed (although it is usually around 25). Alberta
is limited to 10 inductees each year.
An order for the Yukon Territory, the Yukon Territory Order of Polaris
, has been rumored to be created. Other than a ribbon bar present on a few medal related websites, no announcement has been made concerning this order. It is not listed on the medals and orders chart for members of the Canadian Forces.
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...
of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
has devised a system of orders and awards
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...
to honour residents for actions or deeds that benefit their local community or province, are in turn subsumed within the Canadian honours system. Each province sets their own rules and criteria on eligibility and also how each medal is awarded and presented. Most of the orders allow for the recipient to wear their orders in public, and most grant the recipients 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...
in their names.
Development
British Columbia was the first to establish an honour that was distinct to the province: the Dogwood MedallionOrder of the Dogwood
The Order of the Dogwood was the province of British Columbia 's highest award for civilian achievement. The award began as the Dogwood Medallion as a project of the BC provincial centennial in 1957. The medallion award was renamed to Order of the Dogwood in 1966 and continued as the highest...
, created for the province's centennial in 1957, and reformed into the Order of the Dogwood
Order of the Dogwood
The Order of the Dogwood was the province of British Columbia 's highest award for civilian achievement. The award began as the Dogwood Medallion as a project of the BC provincial centennial in 1957. The medallion award was renamed to Order of the Dogwood in 1966 and continued as the highest...
in 1966. After the establishment of the Canadian honours system in 1967, the rest of the provinces, recognizing the Crown's distinct operation within each provincial jurisdiction
Monarchy in the Canadian provinces
The monarchy of Canada forms the core of each Canadian provincial jurisdiction's Westminster-style parliamentary democracy, being the foundation of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government in each province...
, moved to establish their own honours after Ottawa declined to do so on their behalf. 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....
was the first, creating the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship
Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship
The Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship is an honorary medal produced by the Canadian Province of Ontario. It was established by the Government of Ontario in 1973 to recognize people who, through exceptional long-term efforts, have made outstanding contributions to the well being of their...
in 1973, and the Police and Firefighter's Bravery Medals in 1975 and 1976, respectively. Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
followed with the Alberta Order of Excellence
Alberta Order of Excellence
The Alberta Order of Excellence is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Alberta. Instituted in 1979 when Lieutenant Governor Frank C...
in 1979. 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....
was the first province to establish a true order: l'Ordre national du Quebec
National Order of Quebec
The National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec...
in 1984. The Order of Ontario
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
came in 1986, the Order of British Columbia
Order of British Columbia
The Order of British Columbia is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Instituted in 1989 by Lieutenant Governor David Lam, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Bill Vander Zalm, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to honour...
in 1989 (which replaced the Order of the Dogwood), the Order of Prince Edward Island
Order of Prince Edward Island
The Order of Prince Edward Island is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. Instituted in 1996 by Lieutenant Governor Gilbert Clements, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Catherine Callbeck, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is...
in 1997, the Order of Manitoba
Order of Manitoba
The Order of Manitoba is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Instituted in 1999 when Lieutenant Governor Peter M...
in 1999, and the Order of Nova Scotia
Order of Nova Scotia
The Order of Nova Scotia is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Instituted on 2 August 2001, when Lieutenant Governor Myra Freeman granted Royal Assent to the Order of Nova Scotia Act, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to honour...
, of New Brunswick
Order of New Brunswick
The Order of New Brunswick is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. Instituted in 2000 by Lieutenant Governor Marilyn Trenholme Counsell, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Bernard Lord, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended...
, and of Newfoundland and Labrador
Order of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Order of Newfoundland and Labrador is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Instituted in 2001, when Lieutenant Governor Arthur Maxwell House granted Royal Assent to the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador Act, the order is administered by the...
in 2001. However, the federal government did not recognize these honours and decorations, fearing duplications and citing the fact that, aside from the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Queen had not authorized them. The provinces responded by stating that since provincial ministers did not constitutionally have the right to advise the sovereign directly, they would do so via legislation under the prerogative of the provincial Crown. The federal government finally came to recognize provincial orders after a compromise was reached between Governor General
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
Ray Hnatyshyn
Ray Hnatyshyn
Ramon John Hnatyshyn , commonly known as Ray Hnatyshyn, was a Canadian politician and statesman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 24th since Canadian Confederation....
and Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan
Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan
The Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan is the viceregal representative in Saskatchewan of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the...
Sylvia Fedoruk
Sylvia Fedoruk
Sylvia Olga Fedoruk, OC, SOM is a Canadian scientist, curler and the 17th Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan.Born in Canora, Saskatchewan, of Ukrainian immigrants, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in physics at the University of Saskatchewan, in 1949, and a M.A...
, wherein provincial honours established by legislation or order in council would be ranked below all national honours, but above national decorations.
Provincial orders
| Name | Ribbon bar | Post-nominal letters | Number of inductees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta Order of Excellence Alberta Order of Excellence The Alberta Order of Excellence is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Alberta. Instituted in 1979 when Lieutenant Governor Frank C... |
A.O.E. | 59 | |
| Order of British Columbia Order of British Columbia The Order of British Columbia is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Instituted in 1989 by Lieutenant Governor David Lam, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Bill Vander Zalm, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to honour... |
O.B.C. | 218 | |
| Order of Manitoba Order of Manitoba The Order of Manitoba is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Instituted in 1999 when Lieutenant Governor Peter M... |
O.M. | 85 | |
| Order of New Brunswick Order of New Brunswick The Order of New Brunswick is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. Instituted in 2000 by Lieutenant Governor Marilyn Trenholme Counsell, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Bernard Lord, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended... |
O.N.B. | 37 | |
| Order of Newfoundland and Labrador Order of Newfoundland and Labrador The Order of Newfoundland and Labrador is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Instituted in 2001, when Lieutenant Governor Arthur Maxwell House granted Royal Assent to the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador Act, the order is administered by the... |
O.N.L. | 35 | |
| Order of Nova Scotia Order of Nova Scotia The Order of Nova Scotia is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Instituted on 2 August 2001, when Lieutenant Governor Myra Freeman granted Royal Assent to the Order of Nova Scotia Act, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to honour... |
O.N.S. | 20 | |
| Order of Ontario Order of Ontario The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to... |
O.Ont. | 209 | |
| Order of Prince Edward Island Order of Prince Edward Island The Order of Prince Edward Island is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. Instituted in 1996 by Lieutenant Governor Gilbert Clements, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Catherine Callbeck, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is... |
O.P.E.I. | 32 | |
| National Order of Quebec National Order of Quebec The National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec... Presented in three grades:
|
G.O.Q. O.Q. C.Q. |
69 (G.O.Q.) 195 (O.Q.) 324 (C.Q.) |
|
| Saskatchewan Order of Merit Saskatchewan Order of Merit The Saskatchewan Order of Merit is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Instituted in 1985 by Lieutenant Governor Frederick Johnson, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Grant Devine, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to... |
S.O.M. | 122 |
In all provinces except Quebec the provincial honours are presented by the relevant Lieutenant Governor.
Most provincial orders only have one grade, or level, which is membership. The only province that has a multi-level order system is 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....
: the National Order of Quebec has three grades (in descending order of grade): Grand Officer (GOQ), Officer (OQ), and Knight (CQ).
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."...
has listed the following orders to be worn in the following manner: National Order of Quebec, Saskatchewan Order of Merit, Order of Ontario, Order of British Columbia, Alberta Order of Excellence, Order of Prince Edward Island, Order of Manitoba, Order of New Brunswick, Order of Nova Scotia and the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador. However, the CF has stated that while this is the order of sequence on a ribbon bar, it is unlikely or even impossible that a member will receive a medal or an order from all Canadian provinces.
Various people who have been awarded provincial orders have been presented with national decorations and orders, such as 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...
. An example of this would be Gordon Lightfoot
Gordon Lightfoot
Gordon Meredith Lightfoot, Jr. is a Canadian singer-songwriter who achieved international success in folk, folk-rock, and country music, and has been credited for helping define the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and 1970s...
being awarded the Order of Ontario. Lightfoot is also a Companion of the Order of Canada. Each province has a limit on how many can be awarded with their order per year. Ontario places no limit on the number that can be distributed (although it is usually around 25). Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
is limited to 10 inductees each year.
An order for the Yukon Territory, the Yukon Territory Order of Polaris
Yukon Territory Order of Polaris
The Order of Polaris is given out by the Government of Yukon Territory in Canada for:* great service to the territory* service to the people of the territory* unique culture...
, has been rumored to be created. Other than a ribbon bar present on a few medal related websites, no announcement has been made concerning this order. It is not listed on the medals and orders chart for members of the Canadian Forces.
Saskatchewan
- Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of SaskatchewanCommemorative Medal for the Centennial of SaskatchewanThe Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of Saskatchewan also called the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal is a commemorative medal struck to celebrate the first 100 years since Saskatchewan's entrance into Canadian Confederation....
- Saskatchewan Volunteer MedalSaskatchewan Volunteer MedalThe Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal is a civil decoration for volunteers in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, introduced in 1995 by the Government of Saskatchewan. Prior to the establishment of the medal volunteerism could be recognized by the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, but this is only one...
(SVM) - Saskatchewan Protective Services Medal
Ontario
- Ontario Medal for Good CitizenshipOntario Medal for Good CitizenshipThe Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship is an honorary medal produced by the Canadian Province of Ontario. It was established by the Government of Ontario in 1973 to recognize people who, through exceptional long-term efforts, have made outstanding contributions to the well being of their...
(OMC) - Ontario Medal for Police Bravery
- Ontario Medal for Firefighters Bravery
- Ontario Provincial Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
- Ontario Medal for Young VolunteersOntario Medal for Young VolunteersThe Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers is an honour presented annually by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario for outstanding contributions by young volunteers in the province of Ontario...
Alberta
- Alberta Law Enforcement Long Service Medal
- Alberta Emergency Services Medal
- Alberta Centennial MedalAlberta Centennial MedalThe Alberta Centennial Medal is a commemorative medal celebrating Alberta’s first 100 years of confederation.-Purpose:This medal is meant to pay tribute to Albertans whose achievements have benefited their fellow citizens, their community and their province....
Newfoundland and Labrador
- Newfoundland and Labrador Bravery Award
- Newfoundland and Labrador Volunteer Service Medal
See also
- Orders, decorations, and medals of Canada
- List of Canadian awards
- Canadian order of precedence (decorations and medals)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:...