Saskatchewan Order of Merit
Encyclopedia
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 honour current or former Saskatchewan residents for conspicuous achievements in any field, being thus described in law as the highest honour amongst all others conferred by the Saskatchewan Crown
.
The process of finding qualified individuals begins with call for nominations put out each spring by the Saskatchewan Honours Advisory Council, which then makes its selected recommendations to the lieutenant governor. Posthumous nominations are accepted within one year of the date of death and in 2001 the Provincial Emblems and Honours Act was amended to allow for honorary membership in the order, granted to those who are neither current nor former residents of Saskatchewan; Prince Charles, Prince of Wales
, was the first honorary member of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, having been appointed on 24 April 2001. The lieutenant governor, who is ex officio a member and the Chancellor of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit and remains a member following his or her departure from viceregal office, then makes all appointments into the fellowship's single grade of membership by letters patent
bearing the viceroyal sign-manual
and the Great Seal of the province; thereafter, the new Members are entitled to use the post-nominal letters
SOM and have their portrait added to the Athabasca Gallery at the Saskatchewan Legislative Building
.
in Regina
or at a venue in Saskatoon
. According to The Provincial Emblems and Honours Act, which stipulates the design of the order's badges and ribbon and how they are worn, the main emblem of the order is a silver
medallion in the form of a six pointed star an abstract rendition of a western red lilly
, the province's official flower. The obverse is coated in white enamel
and bears the escutcheon of Her Majesty's Arms in right of Saskatchewan
within a circular ribbon that displays the provincial motto Multis E Gentibus Vires (From many peoples strength) all topped by a St. Edward's Crown
symbolizing the Canadian monarch's role as the fount of honour
. This medallion is hung from a ribbon with a green-gold-green, vertical striped pattern, at the collar for men, and on a bow pinned at the left chest for women. Members will also receive for wear on casual clothing a lapel pin in the form of a stylized western red lily bearing at St. Edward's Crown.
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
Award
An award is something given to a person or a group of people to recognize excellence in a certain field; a certificate of excellence. Awards are often signifiedby trophies, titles, certificates, commemorative plaques, medals, badges, pins, or ribbons...
for merit in the 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...
of Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
. Instituted in 1985 by Lieutenant Governor
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...
Frederick Johnson, 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 Cabinet
Executive Council of Saskatchewan
The Executive Council of Saskatchewan is the cabinet of that Canadian province....
under Premier
Premier of Saskatchewan
The Premier of Saskatchewan is the first minister for the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. They are the province's head of government and de facto chief executive....
Grant Devine
Grant Devine
Donald Grant Devine was the 11th Premier of Saskatchewan from May 8, 1982 to November 1, 1991.- Early life :Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, he received a B.Sc. in Agriculture degree specializing in Agricultural Economics in 1967 from the University of Saskatchewan, an M.Sc. specializing in...
, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council
Queen-in-Council
The Queen-in-Council is, in each of the Commonwealth realms, the technical term of constitutional law that refers to the exercise of executive authority, denoting the monarch acting by and with the advice and consent of his or her privy council or executive council The Queen-in-Council (during...
and is intended to honour current or former Saskatchewan residents for conspicuous achievements in any field, being thus described in law as the highest honour amongst all others conferred by the Saskatchewan Crown
Monarchy in Saskatchewan
By the arrangements of the Canadian federation, the Canadian monarchy operates in Saskatchewan as the core of the province's Westminster-style parliamentary democracy; As such, the Crown within Saskatchewan's jurisdiction is referred to as the Crown in Right of Saskatchewan, Her Majesty in Right...
.
Structure and appointment
The Saskatchewan Order of Merit is intended to honour any Canadian citizen currently or formerly resident in Saskatchewan who has demonstrated a high level of individual excellence and achievement in any field, improving the "social, cultural and economic well-being of the province and its residents"; the process of finding such individuals begins with call for nominations put out each spring by the Saskatchewan Honours Advisory Council. There are no limitations on population, but only ten new members may be created each year.The process of finding qualified individuals begins with call for nominations put out each spring by the Saskatchewan Honours Advisory Council, which then makes its selected recommendations to the lieutenant governor. Posthumous nominations are accepted within one year of the date of death and in 2001 the Provincial Emblems and Honours Act was amended to allow for honorary membership in the order, granted to those who are neither current nor former residents of Saskatchewan; Prince Charles, Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
, was the first honorary member of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, having been appointed on 24 April 2001. The lieutenant governor, who is ex officio a member and the Chancellor of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit and remains a member following his or her departure from viceregal office, then makes all appointments into the fellowship's single grade of membership 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...
bearing the viceroyal sign-manual
Royal sign-manual
The royal sign manual is the formal name given in the Commonwealth realms to the autograph signature of the sovereign, by the affixing of which the monarch expresses his or her pleasure either by order, commission, or warrant. A sign-manual warrant may be either an executive actfor example, an...
and the Great Seal of the province; thereafter, the new Members are entitled to use the 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...
SOM and have their portrait added to the Athabasca Gallery at the Saskatchewan Legislative Building
Saskatchewan Legislative Building
The Saskatchewan Legislative Building is located in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, and houses the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan.-History:...
.
Insignia
Upon admission into the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, members are presented with the order's insignia at a ceremony held either at Government HouseGovernment House (Saskatchewan)
Government House, Regina, Saskatchewan, was constructed as a residence for the Lieutenant-Governor of the North-West Territories, whose territorial headquarters were in Regina until the provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta were created out of the Territories in 1905 and Regina became the capital...
in Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
or at a venue in Saskatoon
Saskatoon
Saskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
. According to The Provincial Emblems and Honours Act, which stipulates the design of the order's badges and ribbon and how they are worn, the main emblem of the order is a silver
Sterling silver
Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% by mass of silver and 7.5% by mass of other metals, usually copper. The sterling silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925....
medallion in the form of a six pointed star an abstract rendition of a western red lilly
Lilium philadelphicum
Lilium philadelphicum, also known as the Wood Lily, Philadelphia Lily, Prairie Lily or Western Red Lily, is a perennial species of lily native to North America...
, the province's official flower. The obverse is coated in white enamel
Vitreous enamel
Vitreous enamel, also porcelain enamel in U.S. English, is a material made by fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually between 750 and 850 °C...
and bears the escutcheon of Her Majesty's Arms in right of Saskatchewan
Coat of arms of Saskatchewan
The first part of the Coat of Arms of the Province of Saskatchewan , was the shield, which was assigned by royal warrant of King Edward VII on 25 August 1906. It uses the provincial colours, green and gold.On the gold chief is a lion passant or leopard, a royal symbol of England...
within a circular ribbon that displays the provincial motto Multis E Gentibus Vires (From many peoples strength) all topped by a St. Edward's Crown
St. Edward's Crown
St Edward's Crown was one of the English Crown Jewels and remains one of the senior British Crown Jewels, being the official coronation crown used in the coronation of first English, then British, and finally Commonwealth realms monarchs...
symbolizing the Canadian monarch's role 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 :...
. This medallion is hung from a ribbon with a green-gold-green, vertical striped pattern, at the collar for men, and on a bow pinned at the left chest for women. Members will also receive for wear on casual clothing a lapel pin in the form of a stylized western red lily bearing at St. Edward's Crown.
Inductees
The following are some notable appointees of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit:- Freda AhenakewFreda AhenakewFreda Ahenakew, is a Canadian author and academic of Cree descent. She is a sister-in-law to the political activist David Ahenakew.- Biography :...
, author and academic, appointed 2005 - John Hall ArcherJohn Hall ArcherJohn Hall Archer, was a Canadian librarian, historian, civil servant, and the first President of the University of Regina....
, librarian and historian, appointed 1987 - Lorne Allan BabiukLorne BabiukLorne Allan Babiuk, is a Canadian scientist specializing in immunology, pathogenesis, virology, molecular virology, and vaccinology. He is the Vice-President of Research at the University of Alberta and the former Director of the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization at the University of...
, immunologistImmunologyImmunology is a broad branch of biomedical science that covers the study of all aspects of the immune system in all organisms. It deals with the physiological functioning of the immune system in states of both health and diseases; malfunctions of the immune system in immunological disorders ; the...
, molecular virologist, and vaccinologist, appointed 2003 - Marcel Alter BaltzanMarc BaltzanMarcel Alter Baltzan, OC, SOM was a Canadian physician and nephrologist who was a pioneer in the field of kidney research. He was a member of the team that performed Canada’s second kidney transplant in Saskatchewan in 1964.Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, the son of David M...
, physicianPhysicianA physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and nephrologist, appointed 1999 - Lloyd Ingram BarberLloyd BarberLloyd Ingram Barber, was the first President and former vice-chancellor of the University of Regina.-Early life:...
, Chancellor of the University of ReginaUniversity of ReginaThe University of Regina is a public research university located in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Founded in 1911 as a private denominational high school of the Methodist Church of Canada, it began an association with the University of Saskatchewan as a junior college in 1925, and was disaffiliated...
, appointed 1995 - Edward Dmytro BaydaEdward BaydaEdward Dmytro Bayda was the Chief Justice of Saskatchewan, Canada and Chief Justice of the Province's Court of Appeal....
, Chief Justice of SaskatchewanCourt of Appeal for SaskatchewanThe Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan is the highest superior appeal court in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada. It hears appeals from the Court of Queen's Bench for Saskatchewan as well as the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan and administrative tribunals...
, appointed 2008 - Allan Emrys BlakeneyAllan BlakeneyAllan Emrys Blakeney, PC, OC, SOM, QC, FRSC was the tenth Premier of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan from 1971 to 1982, and leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party .-Life and career:...
, Premier of Saskatchewan, appointed 2000 - Elizabeth Winifred BrewsterElizabeth BrewsterElizabeth Winifred Brewster, CM is a Canadian poet and academic.Born in Chipman, New Brunswick, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of New Brunswick, a Master of Arts degree from Radcliffe College, a Bachelor of Library Science from the University of Toronto, and a Ph.D....
, poet and academic, appointed 2008 - Angus Daniel Campbell , founder of the Northern Ontario Hockey AssociationNorthern Ontario Hockey AssociationThe Northern Ontario Hockey Association is minor and junior level ice hockey governing body. The NOHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation and Hockey Canada. The major league run by the NOHA is the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League of the Canadian Junior A Hockey League...
, appointed 1996 - Maria CampbellMaria CampbellMaria Campbell OC is a Métis author, playwright, broadcaster, filmmaker, and Elder. Campbell is a fluent speaker of four languages: Cree, Michif, Saulteaux, and English....
, author, playwright, broadcaster, filmmaker, appointed 2005 - Edward Milton CullitonE. M. CullitonEdward Milton Culliton, CC, SOM, KCSG was a member of Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan and Chief Justice of Saskatchewan....
, Chief Justice of Saskatchewan, appointed 1988 - Donald Grant DevineGrant DevineDonald Grant Devine was the 11th Premier of Saskatchewan from May 8, 1982 to November 1, 1991.- Early life :Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, he received a B.Sc. in Agriculture degree specializing in Agricultural Economics in 1967 from the University of Saskatchewan, an M.Sc. specializing in...
, Premier of Saskatchewan, appointed 2009 - Thomas Clement DouglasTommy DouglasThomas Clement "Tommy" Douglas, was a Scottish-born Baptist minister who became a prominent Canadian social democratic politician...
, Premier of Saskatchewan, appointed 1985 - Joseph FafardJoe FafardJoseph Fafard, OC, SOM is a Canadian sculptor.-Biography:Born in Sainte-Marthe, Saskatchewan in 1942 to Leopold Fafard and Julienne Cantin whose families both date back centuries in Canada. Joe is a descendant of Jacques Goulet. He received a B.S.A from the University of Manitoba in 1966 and a...
, sculpture artist, appointed 2002 - Walter Henry FarquharsonWalter H. FarquharsonThe Very Rev. Walter Henry Farquharson was Moderator of the United Church of Canada from 1990-1992. Born near Rosetown, Saskatchewan, he was educated at the University of Saskatchewan and St Andrew's College in the University of Saskatchewan...
, Moderator of the United Church of CanadaModerator of the United Church of CanadaThe Moderator of the United Church of Canada is the presiding leader of the United Church of Canada, Canada's largest Protestant denomination. The church is highly decentralized and non-dogmatic and the moderator has only limited power...
, appointed 2007 - David Leon KaplanDavid L. KaplanDavid Leon Kaplan, is a Canadian professor, performer and conductor.Born in Chicago, Illinois, he received a Bachelor of Music from Roosevelt University in 1948, a Masters of Music from Oberlin College in 1950 and a Doctor of Music from Indiana University in 1978...
, professor, performer, and conductor, appointed 2006 - John Victor HicksJohn V. HicksJohn Victor Hicks, SOM was a Canadian poet. He was born in London, England but his parents immigrated to New Brunswick while he was still an infant...
, poet, appointed 1992 - Frederick HillFrederick HillFrederick "Fred" Hill was an English professional rugby league footballer of the 1900s, who at representative level played for England, and at club level for Batley, playing at /, i.e. number 13, during the era of contested scrums.-International honours:...
, professional rugby leagueRugby leagueRugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer, appointed 1999 - Gordon MacMurchyGordon MacMurchyGordon MacMurchy was a Canadian politician, who represented the electoral district of Last Mountain from 1971 to 1975, and Last Mountain-Touchwood from 1975 to 1982, in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. He was a member of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party. He served as a cabinet...
, politician, appointed 1999 - Peggy McKercherPeggy McKercherPeggy McKercher C.M., SOM, B.A., LL.D. has made lifelong contributions to her community, province and country. A brief overview list of her appointments: She was the first woman elected to the Corman Park Rural Municipality; she served as the 11th chancellor of the University of Saskatchewan; she...
, Chancellor of the University of SaskatchewanUniversity of SaskatchewanThe University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
, appointed 2001 - Kenneth Alexander Mitchell , actor, appointed 2001
- Robert Joseph OgleRobert OgleRobert Joseph Ogle, was a Roman Catholic priest, broadcaster and Member of the Canadian House of Commons.Born in Rosetown, Saskatchewan, he was ordained priest in 1953...
, Roman Catholic priest, brodacaster, and politician, appointed 1995 - William PerehudoffWilliam PerehudoffWilliam Perehudoff, OC, SOM is a Canadian artist, most closely associated with colour field painting. He is married to the landscape painter Dorothy Knowles.-Life and career:...
, artist, appointed 1994 - Edward RawlinsonEdward RawlinsonEdward A. Rawlinson, SOM was a Canadian businessman. Born in Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan, Rawlinson became the youngest chartered accountant in Canada in 1934. During the Second World War he was manager of British Commonwealth Air Training Plan flying school in Prince Albert.In 1946 Rawlinson bought...
, broadcaster, appointed 1989 - Samuel RichardsonSam RichardsonSamuel "Sam" Richardson is a Canadian athlete who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.He was born in Toronto.In 1936 he was a member of the Canadian relay team which finished fifth in the Olympic 4x100 metre event...
, Olympic athlete, appointed 2005 - Roy John RomanowRoy RomanowRoy John Romanow, PC, OC, QC, SOM is a Canadian politician and the 12th Premier of Saskatchewan ....
, Premier of SaskatchewanPremier of SaskatchewanThe Premier of Saskatchewan is the first minister for the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. They are the province's head of government and de facto chief executive....
, appointed 2003 - Allen SappAllen SappAllen Sapp, OC, SOM is a Canadian Cree painter, currently living in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. His art and his story have become well known throughout Canada and has become an inspiration to many. His paintings tell a personal story. Many of his paintings feature images of his grandmother,...
, artist, appointed 1985 - Sandra Marie SchmirlerSandra SchmirlerSandra Marie Schmirler, SOM , was a Canadian curler, who captured three Canadian Curling Championships and three World Curling Championships. Schmirler skipped her Canadian team to a gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics, the first year curling was a medal sport...
, Olympic athlete, posthumously appointed 2000 - Morris Cyril ShumiatcherMorris ShumiatcherMorris Cyril "Shumy" Shumiatcher, OC, SOM, QC was a Canadian lawyer best known for his contribution to the field of human rights and civil liberties....
, civil rights lawyer, appointed 1996 - William James SmallBill SmallWilliam James Small was born at Craven, Saskatchewan, Canada November 18, 1927. He was involved with organising and promoting agricultural shows in Regina.-References:William Small....
, event organizer, appointed 2002 - John William Tranter SpinksJohn SpinksJohn William Tranter Spinks, was the President of the University of Saskatchewan from 1960 to 1975.-Biography:...
, appointed 1996 - Savella StechishinSavella StechishinSavella Stechishin, CM, SOM, née Wawryniuk , was a Ukrainian-Canadian home economist and writer, recipient of the Order of Canada...
, home economist and writer, appointed 1998 - Anne SzumigalskiAnne SzumigalskiAnne Szumigalski, SOM was a Canadian poet.- Life :She was born Anne Howard Davies in London, England, and grew up mostly in a Hampshire village. She served with the Red Cross as a medical auxiliary officer and interpreter during World War II, following British Army forces in 1944-5 across parts of...
, poet, appointed 1989 - Guy Clarence VanderhaegheGuy VanderhaegheGuy Clarence Vanderhaeghe, OC, SOM is a Canadian novelist and short story writer, best known for his two Western novels, The Englishman's Boy and The Last Crossing, set in the 19th century American and Canadian West...
, author, appointed 2003 - Prince Charles, Prince of WalesCharles, Prince of WalesPrince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
, heir apparent to the Canadian throne, appointed 2001 - Ernest Walker , composer, pianist, and organist, appointed 2001
- Pamela WallinPamela WallinPamela Wallin, OC, SOM is a former Canadian television journalist and diplomat. On January 2, 2009, she was seated in the Canadian Senate, where she sits as a Conservative.-Early life and career:...
, television journalist and diplomat, appointed 1999 - James Vernon WeisgerberJames WeisgerberJames Vernon Weisgerber, SOM is a Canadian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the sixth and current Archbishop of Winnipeg.-Early life and education:...
, prelatePrelateA prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, appointed 2005 - Prince Edward, Earl of WessexPrince Edward, Earl of WessexPrince Edward, Earl of Wessex KG GCVO is the third son and fourth child of Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh...
, member of the Canadian Royal Family, appointed 2005 - Stephen WorobetzStephen WorobetzStephen Worobetz, OC, MC, SOM, FRCS was a Canadian physician and the 13th Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan....
, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, appointed 1999 - Clifford Emerson WrightClifford WrightClifford Emerson Wright, was the mayor of Saskatoon from 1976 to 1988 and the first mayor born in the city.He was a member of the Saskatoon City Council from 1967 until being elected mayor in 1976. He served for four successive terms until 1988. From 1989 to 1993, he served as a Treaty Commissioner...
, Mayor of SaskatoonSaskatoonSaskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
, appointed 1999
See also
- 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:...
- Symbols of SaskatchewanSymbols of SaskatchewanSaskatchewan is one of Canada's provinces, and has established several provincial symbols.-Symbols:...
- State decorationState decorationState 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....