Orders recognize significant achievements and remarkable service. They include the Order of Canada; the Order of Military Merit; the Order of Merit of the Police Forces; the Royal Victorian Order; the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, and provincial orders.
Established in 1967 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Order of Canada is the centrepiece of Canada’s honours system and recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. The Order recognizes people in all sectors of Canadian society. Their contributions are varied, yet they have all enriched the lives of others and made a difference to this country. The Order of Canada’s motto is DESIDERANTES MELIOREM PATRIAM (They desire a better country).
Companion (C.C.)
The Companion of the Order of Canada recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement and merit of the highest degree, especially in service to Canada or to humanity at large.
Officer (O.C.)
The Officer of the Order of Canada recognizes a lifetime of achievement and merit of a high degree, especially in service to Canada or to humanity at large.
Member (C.M.)
The Member of the Order of Canada recognizes a lifetime of distinguished service in or to a particular community, group or field of activity
The insignia of the Order is a stylized snowflake of six points, with a red annulus at its centre which bears a stylized maple leaf circumscribed with the motto of the Order, DESIDERANTES MELIOREM PATRIAM (They desire a better country), surmounted by St. Edward’s Crown.
| Level | Edging | Annulus Lettering | Maple Leaf Centre |
| Companion |
gold |
gold |
red |
| Officer |
gold |
gold |
gold |
| Member |
silver |
silver |
silver |
Maximum number of appointments per year, according to
| Level | Appointments per Year |
| Companion |
15* |
| Officer |
64 |
| Member |
136 |
| Non-Canadian (Honorary) |
5 |
| Total |
220 |
*not to exceed 165 living Companions at any given time
Celebrating Excellence - Order of Canada Newsletter
The Order of Military Merit recognizes distinctive merit and exceptional service displayed by the men and women of the Canadian Forces, both Regular and Reserve. Many have demonstrated dedication and devotion beyond the call of duty, and the Order honours them for their commitment to Canada.
Eligibility and Nominations
Commander (C.M.M.)
The Commander of Military Merit recognizes outstanding meritorious service and demonstrated leadership in duties of great responsibility.
Officer (O.M.M.)
The Officer of Military Merit recognizes outstanding meritorious service in duties of responsibility.
Member (M.M.M.)
The Member of Military Merit recognizes exceptional service or performance of duty.
The badge of the Order is a blue-enamelled, straight-end cross (four arms, narrow at the centre, wider at the ends) with an annulus in red surmounted by St. Edward’s Crown. The annulus bears the inscription MERIT.MÉRITE.CANADA.
The insignia is worn around the neck, suspended from a blue ribbon, 1.5 inches wide, with gold edges (0.1875). The lapel badge, a blue cross with a red maple leaf centre, is worn on the undress ribbon. Elevations within the order are indicated by the wearing of the lapel badge of the current and previous levels on a single ribbon.
| Level | Edging | Annulus Lettering | Maple Leaf Centre |
| Commander |
gold |
gold |
red |
| Officer |
gold |
gold |
gold |
| Member |
silver |
silver |
silver |
Quick Facts
Sovereign of the Order: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Chancellor and a Commander: Governor General
Principal Commander: Chief of the Defence Staff
Established: July 1, 1972
The Order of Merit of the Police Forces honours a career of exceptional service or distinctive merit displayed by the men and women of the Canadian Police Services, and recognizes their commitment to this country. The primary focus is on exceptional merit, contributions to policing and community development.
Commander (C.O.M.)
The Commander of the Order of Merit recognizes outstanding meritorious service and demonstrated leadership in duties of great responsibility over an extended period, usually at the national or international level.
Officer (O.O.M.)
The Officer of the Order of Merit recognizes outstanding meritorious service in duties of responsibility over an extended period, usually at the regional or provincial level.
Member (M.O.M.)
The Member of the Order of Merit recognizes exceptional service or performance of duty over an extended period, usually at the local or regional/provincial level.
The badge of the Order is the same as that of the Order of Military Merit, a blue-enamelled, straight-end cross (four arms, narrow at the centre, wider at the ends) with an annulus in red surmounted by St. Edward’s Crown. The annulus bears the inscription MERIT.MÉRITE.CANADA.
The ribbon consists of three equal bands of blue, gold and blue.
| Level | Edging | Annulus Lettering | Maple Leaf Centre |
| Commander |
gold |
gold |
red |
| Officer |
gold |
gold |
gold |
| Member |
silver |
silver |
silver |
For more information on the Order, as well as eligibility and nominations, please visit the Web site of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police:http://www.cacp.ca.
Quick Facts
- Sovereign of the Order: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
- Chancellor and a Commander: Governor General
- Principal Commander: Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- Established: October 2000
The Royal Victorian Order was established by Queen Victoria on April 21, 1896, as a reward for extraordinary, important or personal services performed for the Sovereign or the Royal Family. The Order may be conferred by The Queen of Canada to recognize services rendered to the Sovereign or to members of the Royal Family during Royal Visits to Canada. Names of Canadian recipients are published in the Canada Gazette.
The insignia of the Order consists of a Maltese cross of eight points, in the centre of which is an oval of crimson enamel with the Royal Cypher – VRI (Victoria Regina Imperatrix) – superimposed one letter on the other in gold. Encircling the Royal Cypher is a blue enamel riband with the motto VICTORIA in gold. The Imperial State Crown sits atop the riband.
Commanders receive a two-inch badge with a white-enamelled cross, Lieutenants a one-and-one-half-inch badge with a white-enamelled cross, and Members a one-and-one-half-inch badge with a frosted silver cross.
Established: April 1896 by Queen Victoria
Anniversary: June 20, day of Queen Victoria’s accession to the throne
2010 Newly Appointed Recipients (pdf — 9 Kb)
For more information on the Order visit the official Web site.
Royal Victorian Medal
Queen Victoria established the Royal Victorian Medal in April 1896 as a reward for personal service to the Sovereign or the Royal Family, and as a mark of royal esteem. The Medal is conferred upon civilians and non-commissioned military personnel. Although the Medal is related to the Royal Victorian Order, it differs in appearance and in the way it is worn.
Recipients are permitted to use the post-nominal R.V.M. Names of the recipients are published in the The Canada Gazette
The Medal is awarded in silver gilt (gold), silver and bronze:
- on the obverse appears the effigy of the reigning Sovereign and an inscription of the current legend, and
- on the reverse is the Royal Cipher upon an ornamental shield within a laurel wreath
- a recipient of the Bronze Medal may wear both the Bronze and a subsequent Silver or Gold Medal if it is awarded; Bars may be awarded to each class of Medal for further services, and the Medals may be worn in addition to the insignia of the Royal Victorian Order if the latter is subsequently conferred; in most circumstances, the Silver Medal is awarded
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. 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. The Order traces its origins to the Knights Hospitaller, of the Crusades, who served the Abbey of St. Mary’s small hospital for sick pilgrims in Jerusalem in the 12th century. The Order was brought into the Canadian Honours System in 1990.
St. John Ambulance
St. John Ambulance Canada is a charitable organization whose mission is to enable Canadians to improve their health, safety and quality of life, by providing training and community service. In addition, the organization supports the Hospital of St. John in Jerusalem by providing for the services of a surgeon, and by supplying optical equipment and funds for special projects.
Grades in the Order are:
- Bailiff Grand Cross or Dame;
- Knight or Dame;
- Commander;
- Officer; and
- Serving Member.
The insignia for all grades of the Order consists of a Maltese cross, embellished alternately in each of its principal angles with a lion and a unicorn. The four arms of the cross symbolize the virtues of Prudence, Temperance, Justice and Fortitude.
For more information, please visit the Web sites: http://www.sja.ca andhttp://www.orderofstjohn.org/
Quick Facts
Sovereign of the Order: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Prior and Chief Officer: Governor General
Established: In 1888, by Queen Victoria
Although Provincial Orders are not part of the Canadian Honours System, the following have their place in the Canadian Order of Precedence of Orders, Decorations and Medals