The Order of Canada

The order of Canada was established in 1967 by The Queen of England and is handed to Canadians in all walks of life for a lifetime of achievement and exemplary service in many different fields and who have made Canada and or the world at large a better place. Queen Elizabeth II handed down the authority to the governor general, her representative, in Canada to bestow the honour upon the civilians that are bestowed this prestigious order. The current governor general is Michaelle Jean.

There are three divisions; member, officer, and companion to the order.

Each division recipients are given a medal, shaped in a six point snowflake design with a maple leaf in the center of a red annulus, and the insignia - DESIDERANTES MELIOREM PATRIAM (They desire a better country) inscribed upon it. The levels are distinguishable by the snowflake colours.

The lowest level is the member level and the civilian who merits this honour must have done some outstanding achievement at the community, local, or field level in Canada. The edging of the medal, the maple leaf at the center, and the letting is silver.

The middle level is the Officer reserved for Canadian civilians who have done a service either to Canada or another part of the world. The edging, lettering and maple leaf are gold.

The highest level is the Companion level and Canadian citizens must have done exemplary service to Canada and the rest of the world. Again the coloring is gold for edging and lettering but the maple leaf in the center is red.

Each year 5 non- Canadians will be bestowed this honour, 136 Canadian member, 64 Officer, and 15 Canadian Companion appointments will be made for a total of 220 appointments.

Any individual or organization can nominate an individual for the Order of Canada. Nomination forms are available from the Chancellery, Rideau Hall, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0A1.

An Independent Advisory Council of which the Chief Justice of Canada is the chair will determine through a selection process who will receive the awards. The committee will review the nominations and make a decision, which they will then hand to the Governor General of Canada to give out at the official ceremony. Nominees who have not made the cut may come back again in the future if new information has been received in order to strengthen their candidacy.

Among the Companion to the Order of Canada (non Canadian citizens) we have such notables as:

Nelson Mandela from South Africa (awarded in 1998)

Queen Elizabeth of England, the Queen Mother, former Royal Consort of Canada (2000)

Boutros Boutros- Gahli former Secretary General of the United Nations (2004)

Honorary Member (Non Canadian)

John Kenneth Galbraith, an American economist

Charles Aznavour, French musician and actor

Montreal’s own Ben Weider, world renown bodybuilder and fitness equipment guru was inducted as a Officer of the order in 2008 before his death.

From time to time there are controversial appointments such as the appointment of Dr. Hernry Morgentaler - abortion doctor in 2008. A few Order of Canada members threatened to resign from the order because of this appointment.

Also the council can remove appointments if the members have committed a crime or have done something inappropriate in the eyes of the order and the council, one such person is David Ahenakew, Former Chief of Canada’s

Order of Canada

Assembly of First Nations Council who will be stripped of his award because of anti-semitic remarks.

Sources:

http://www.gg.ca/honours/nat-ord/oc/index_e.asp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Canada

http://www.ifbbpro.com/news/ben-weider-officer-of-the-order-of-canada/