Meritorious Service Decorations (Civil Division) recognize achievements in any field, from advocacy and health care services to research and humanitarian efforts. Recipients have tackled poverty in their community, improved education opportunities for children in Canada and abroad, or raised awareness of important causes and issues.

Who is eligible to receive an MSD (Civil Division)?

• Any person whose deed, activity, achievement, contribution or act of innovation occurred after June 11, 1984, is eligible to receive an MSD (Civil Division). The decoration is not intended to recognize longevity of service, but rather to recognize an achievement that was accomplished over a limited period of time.
• Any person, regardless of citizenship, is eligible to receive an MSD (Civil Division). However, their achievement must have brought benefit or honour to Canada.
• Posthumous nominations may be accepted, as long as the achievement for which the individual is being nominated occurred after 1984.

Who is not eligible to receive a MSD (Civil Division)?

• A candidate who has already received an official honour in recognition of the achievement for which they were nominated is not eligible to receive an MSD (Civil Division). An official honour is an order, decoration or medal that forms part of Canada’s Order of Precedence. Canadian honours policy prohibits the awarding of more than one honour in recognition of the same achievement, a policy frequently referred to as the prohibition against duplicate recognition.
• Nominations of elected officials, sitting judges or candidates appointed to their position via a governor-in-council process will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• Nominations of large groups such as a faculty, staff or unit will not be accepted. The MSD (Civil Division) was designed to honour the accomplishments of an individual or a small group.