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Order of Canada

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Order of Canada
File:Officer of the Order of Canada (female).jpg
A female Officer's badge of the Order of Canada
Awarded by Queen of Canada
TypeOrder (decoration)
EstablishedApril 17, 1967
MottoDesiderantes meliorem patriam
EligibilityAll living Canadians, except federal and provincial politicians and judges while they are holding office.
Awarded forThe highest degree of merit to Canada and humanity, an outstanding level of talent and service to Canadians, or an exceptional contribution to Canada or Canadians.
StatusCurrently constituted
GradesCompanion, Officer, Member
Statistics
First inductionJuly 1, 1967
Total inductees5,479
Precedence
Next (higher)Queen's Privy Council for Canada
Next (lower)Queen's Counsel


File:Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with Prime Minister The Rt. Hon. Pierre Elliott Trudeau signing the Constitution.jpg
Elizabeth II, wearing her insignia as Sovereign of the Order of Canada (uppermost, left shoulder).

The Order of Canada is the highest civilian honour within the Canadian system of honours, with membership awarded to those who exemplify the order's Latin motto, taken from Hebrews 11:16, desiderantes meliorem patriam, meaning "they desire a better country." Created in 1967, the order was established to recognize the lifetime contributions made by Canadians who made a major difference to Canada, as well as the efforts made by non-Canadians who have made the world better by their actions. As of April 2008, 5,479 people have been appointed to the Order of Canada,[1] including musicians, politicians, artists, television and film stars, benefactors, and others. Non-honorary members are the only regular citizens who are empowered to administer the Canadian Oath of Citizenship.[2] The Canadian monarch, presently Elizabeth II, is Sovereign of the order, and the serving Governor General, presently Michaëlle Jean, is its Chancellor and Principal Companion.

Creation

The Order of Canada was instituted on April 17, 1967, by Queen Elizabeth II, on the advice of her then Prime Minister, Lester B. Pearson, who was assisted with the establishment of the order by John Matheson. The order was officially launched on July 1, 1967, during the 100th anniversary celebrations of the formation of the Dominion of Canada. Governor General Roland Michener was the first inductee to the order, to the level of Companion,[3] with 90 more people appointed on July 7, 1967, including Vincent Massey, Louis St. Laurent, Hugh MacLennan, Father David Bauer, Gabrielle Roy, Donald Creighton, Thérèse Casgrain, Wilder Penfield, Arthur Lismer, and Maurice Richard.[4] The Queen was presented with the Sovereign's badge by Michener during a visit by him to London, England, that same year, and she first wore it during a banquet in Yellowknife in July, 1970.[5]

The creation of the order was the beginning of a Canadian honours system, and reduced the use of the honours system of the United Kingdom and some of its former Crown colonies; prior to the creation of the Order of Canada, the main order Canadians were inducted into for the above criteria was the Order of the British Empire.[6] The order also inspired Australia and New Zealand to follow on Canada and create similar decorations: the Order of Australia and the Order of New Zealand respectively. The provinces also followed suit, each creating their own distinct orders.

Grades

There are three grades (levels) of the Order of Canada, in order of precedence: Companion, Officer, and Member, each with respective post-nominal letters that its members are entitled to use. Promotions in grade are possible, though this is ordinarily not done within five years of the initial appointment. For example, film director Denys Arcand was promoted from Officer to Companion.[7]

When it was created the order had, in effect, only two ranks, Companion and the Medal of Service, but it included a third award, the Medal of Courage. The latter medal, meant to reward acts of gallantry, fell between the other two awards in level honour but was anomalous within the Order of Canada -- not a middle grade of the among three of a kind, but effectively a separate award of different nature. On July 1, 1972, without ever having been awarded, it was replaced by the separate Cross of Valour. At the same time, the levels of Officer and Member were introduced and all existing holders of the Medal of Service were made Officers. This fulfilled the vision of Lester Pearson for a three-tiered structure.[8][9]

Companion

Main article: List of Companions of the Order of Canada

Companions of the Order of Canada (post-nominal: CC) have demonstrated the highest degree of merit to Canada and humanity, on the national or international scene. Up to 15 Companions are appointed each year, with a limit of 165 living Companions at any given time, save for honorary Companions;[10] as of February 20, 2007, there were 168 living Companions, including four honorary.[11] The constitution of the Order of Canada allows for each Governor General and his or her spouse, to become a Companion of the order upon the viceroy's appointment; thus, with her appointment to the position of Governor General, Michaëlle Jean became the 164th living Companion, and Jean-Daniel Lafond the 165th.[12]

Officer

Officers of the Order of Canada (OC) have demonstrated an outstanding level of talent and service to Canadians, and up to 64 Officers are appointed each year, with no limit to how many may be living at one time.[13]. As of September 29, 2005, there were 1,006 living Officers.

Member

Members of the Order of Canada (CM) have made an exceptional contribution to Canada or Canadians at a local or regional level, group, field or activity. As many as 136 Members may be appointed annually and there is no limit on how many Members may be living at one time. As of September 29, 2005, there were 1,964 living members.[14]

Insignia

File:Officer of the Order of Canada (reverse).jpg
Reverse of the order badge.

The badge of the order is of a white enamelled snowflake design, in gilt for Companions and Officers, and in silver for Members. The central disc bears a maple leaf, in red enamel for Companions, gold for Officers, and silver for Members, all on a white enamel background, surrounded by a red enamel ring (annulus) bearing the motto of the order, and topped by a crown of St. Edward, symbolizing that the order is headed by the sovereign. The reverse is plain except for the word CANADA.[15] The ribbon is white bordered in red stripes, similar to the Canadian flag. The chest ribbon is the same for each grade, save for a metallic maple leaf in the centre, the color of which depends on the grade that one was appointed to: red for a Companion, gold for an Officer, silver stands for Member. For civilian wear, a lapel pin is worn on the jacket, which is designed as a miniature of the medalion; an example of one being used is shown in this photo of Roméo Dallaire. The Governor General also wears a special chain during certain ceremonies, consisting of the Companion badge suspended from the shield of Canada and surmounted by the Crown. On each side, the chain is composed of two repeating elements: a white stylized snowflake and the central disc that appears on the Companion medals. At the Governor General's installation ceremony he or she is presented with the Chain of the Order of Canada and the Chain of the Order of Military Merit.

The badge (as well as the majority of the ensuing emblems in the Canadian honour system) was designed by Bruce W. Beatty, himself made a member of the order in 1990,[16] and who, as of 2004, has been in attendance at every investiture ceremony since 1967.[17]

When wearing medals and decorations, the Order of Canada is worn before all national orders and nearly all other Canadian decorations: only the Victoria Cross and the Cross of Valour are worn before the badge of the Order of Canada. The grades of Companion and Officer have their medals worn by a neck ribbon, while the Member grade is displayed on a chest ribbon on the left side of the jacket. Originally, protocol dictated that female appointees had to wear a ribbon bow in order to display the order's emblem, which was positioned to the left; however, in 1997 regulations were altered and, with the exception of certain special occasions laid out by the Governor General, women may wear their insignia by the same means as the men, although current Governor General, Michaëlle Jean, has taken to displaying the order with the female bow.[18]

The insignia may be passed down as a family heirloom, and sale is discouraged. When a member of the order is upgraded to a higher rank, that individual must return their original emblem to the Chancellery.[19] However, a number of insignias have been put up for sale, most recently in 2007 (see Sale below). Each appointee is also granted the right to ask for a coat of arms from the Canadian Heraldic Authority if one does not already exist for them; Companions may ask the authority for the use of supporters on their personal coat of arms. The order's motto, in gold lettering on a red background, is circled around the shield, while the order's badge is suspended from the base of the shield. Because the Queen is sovereign of the order, the current Coat of Arms of Canada, in use since 1994, uses the red ribbon with the order's motto in gold.[20]

Companion Officer Member
File:Companion of the Order of Canada.jpg
File:OC-badge.jpg
File:Order of Canada (Member).jpg
Ribbon Bar


CC & OC Ribbon CM Ribbon Female Bow Coat of Arms[21]
File:Personal Coat of Arms of Governor General of Canada Michaëlle Jean.jpg

Eligibility and appointment

File:OC-Jean.jpg
Governor General Michaëlle Jean, Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Canada, poses with a full group of Order of Canada appointees at the 101st Investiture Ceremony Banquet in the Tent Room of Rideau Hall, April 11, 2008.
Main article: Appointment to the Order of Canada

All living Canadians are eligible for any of the three levels of the order, except federal and provincial politicians and judges while they are holding office. After being nominated, the Advisory Council reviews each nomination and, along with the Governor General, makes the final choice of new inductees, within the limits for each grade as prescribed in the Constitution of the Order of Canada. New appointees are then formally accepted into the order at an investiture ceremony, typically conducted by the Governor General at Rideau Hall, however other officials may perform the task, and the ceremony may take place in other locations.

Removal

Main article: Removal from the Order of Canada

Members can be removed from the order if the Advisory Council feels their actions have brought the order into disrepute. In order for this to be done, the Advisory Council must agree to the removal, and then send a letter to the person telling them of their decision, and requesting a response from the person in question regarding the decision.

Those removed from the order are required to return their insignia. While there are no formal rules in place that outline a requirement for the council to retrieve the insignia, the author of The Order of Canada: Its Origins, History and Development, Christopher McCreery, said that since the government owns the medal and the scrolls, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police can be sent and get the items by force.[22] As of 2006, only two people have been removed from the Order of Canada: Alan Eagleson, who was removed from the order after being jailed for fraud in 1998,[23] and David Ahenakew, who faced calls for his removal due to anti-Semitic comments he made in 2002.[24]

Advisory Council

The task of the Advisory Council is to evaluate the nominations of potential inductees, decide if the candidates are worthy enough to be accepted into the order, and make recommendations to the Governor General, who appoints the new members. The council is chaired by the Chief Justice of Canada, and includes the Clerk of the Queen's Privy Council, the Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage, the Chairperson of the Canada Council for the Arts, the President of the Royal Society of Canada, and the Chairperson of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. Also, five members of the order sit on the council for a three year period. If a nomination involves a non-Canadian citizen, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs is invited by the Advisory Council to offer evaluation. Decisions of the council, and/or new appointments and dismissals to or from the Order of Canada, are announced to the Canada Gazette and general public by the Secretary General of the Advisory Council.

The current members of the Advisory Council are:

Honorary appointments

As of 2008, there have been twelve honorary appointments to non-Canadian citizens. They are as follows:

Companion

1. The Queen Mother, as a member of the Canadian Royal Family was a Canadian subject but not a Canadian citizen.

Officer

Member

Additional decorations

At certain periods, holders of the order were presented with other decorations, usually commemorative medals. Thus far, four commemorative medals have been given automatically to every living member of the Order of Canada: the Canadian Centennial Medal (1967), the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal (1977), the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal (1992), and the Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee Medal (2002).

Sale

In 2007 it was revealed that one of the first ever issued insignia of the Order of Canada, a Medal of Service awarded originally to Quebec historian Gustave Lanctot, was put up for sale via email. Originally, the auctioneer, who had purchased the insignia for $45 at an estate sale in Montreal, and who remained anonymous, attempted to sell the insignia on eBay; however, after the bidding reached $15,000, eBay removed the item, citing its policy against the sale of government property, including "any die, seal or stamp provided by, belonging to, or used by a government department, diplomatic or military authority appointed by or acting under the authority of Her Majesty." Rideau Hall stated that selling medals was "highly discouraged," however the owner continued efforts to sell the insignia via the internet.[29]

Further reading

See also

References

  1. ^ "Order of Canada". Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
  2. ^ "Welcoming Canadians (pg 40)" (PDF). Institute for Canadian Citizenship. 2007-09-17. Retrieved 2008-04-18.
  3. ^ Roland Michener's listing on the Order of Canada rolls.
  4. ^ Governor General Adrienne Clarkson's speech at an October 30, 2004, Order of Canada investiture
  5. ^ Official Website of the British Monarchy. Royal Insight Magazine: Mailbox: April 2006 Page 3
  6. ^ Paul James article on British Orders.
  7. ^ Announcement of Denys Arcand's promotion in the Order
  8. ^ The Canadian Encyclopedia entry on the Order
  9. ^ McCreery, Christopher (2005). The Order of Canada: Its Origins, History, and Development. University of Toronto Press. pp. pp. 126, 149, 166. ISBN 0802039405. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  10. ^ Order of Canada Constitution.
  11. ^ The criteria were Honours received: C.C., Living and Records per page: All
  12. ^ Insignia Worn by the Governor General
  13. ^ The criteria was Honours received: O.C., Living and Records per page: All.
  14. ^ The criteria was Honours received: C.M., Living and Records per page: All.
  15. ^ Pictures of the backside of the various medal designs.
  16. ^ Bruce W. Beatty's Membership citation
  17. ^ Margaret MacMillan, Marjorie Harris and Desjardins, Anne L.; Canada's House: Rideau Hall and the invention of a Canadian home; Toronto: A.A. Knopf Canada with Otherwise Editions, 2004. ISBN 0-676-97675-1 page 58
  18. ^ The Canadian Honours System: Wearing Of Orders, Decorations and medals. page 2
  19. ^ Constitution of the Order Section 24-(3)-B
  20. ^ http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp/sc-cs/arm1_e.cfm — Coat of Arms of Canada.
  21. ^ Coat of arms of Michaëlle Jean, displaying the Order motto and medal.
  22. ^ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050713/AHENAKEW13/TPNational/Canada Globe and Mail's article on the process of removing Ahenakew from the Order.
  23. ^ http://archives.cbc.ca/IDCC-1-41-1493-10073/sports/alan_eagleson/ CBC account on the rise and fall of Eagleson.
  24. ^ Quebec Cree Chief wants Ahenakew to lose Order of Canada. CBC article on Ahenakew's comments and reactions.
  25. ^ http://www.cbc.ca/news/obit/queenmother/timeline.html. Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was appointed to the order on October 31, 2000.
  26. ^ http://gg.ca/honours/search-recherche/honours-desc.asp?lang=e&TypeID=orc&id=7732 Queen Mother's listing on the Order of Canada rolls.
  27. ^ [http://gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=411 Announcement of Frank Gehry's honorary appointment as a Companion
  28. ^ [1]
  29. ^ Canadian Press; CTV News: Order of Cda. medal auction to proceed by e-mail; January 6, 2007

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