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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


Territorial orders


National decorations


National decorations not included in order of precedence

The Royal Victorian Chain a personal award of the monarch that is of high status, but does not confer on the recipient any title or post-nominal letters, nor is it included in the order-in-council setting out the order of precedence for the wear of honours, decorations, and medals.


National medals


National medals not included in order of precedence

Certain national medals are recognized as a part of the Canadian honours system but are not included in the
Order in Council An Order-in-Council is a type of legislation in many countries, especially the Commonwealth realms. In the United Kingdom this legislation is formally made in the name of the monarch by and with the advice and consent of the Privy Council (''Kin ...
that sets out the precedence of honours, decorations, and medals in Canada.


War and operational service medals


Special service medals


United Nations medals


United Nations medals not included in order of precedence

Certain United Nations medals are recognized as a part of the Canadian honours system but are not included in the
Order in Council An Order-in-Council is a type of legislation in many countries, especially the Commonwealth realms. In the United Kingdom this legislation is formally made in the name of the monarch by and with the advice and consent of the Privy Council (''Kin ...
that sets out the precedence of honours, decorations, and medals in Canada.


North Atlantic Treaty Organization medals


International mission medals


Polar and Volunteer medals


Commemorative medals


Long service and good conduct medals


Exemplary service medals


Special medals


Other decorations and medals

* Commonwealth orders (approved by the King-in-Council) * Commonwealth decorations (approved by the King-in-Council) * Commonwealth medals (approved by the King-in-Council) * Foreign orders (approved by the King-in-Council) * Foreign decorations (approved by King-in-Council) * Foreign medals (approved by the King-in-Council) There are a number of honours and medals administered by provincial,
territorial A territory is an area of land, sea, or space, particularly belonging or connected to a country, person, or animal. In international politics, a territory is usually either the total area from which a state may extract power resources or a ...
, and
municipal A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...
governments, which are not on the list, such as the Order of Polaris, membership in which is awarded by the
government of Yukon Yukon (; ; formerly called Yukon Territory and also referred to as the Yukon) is the smallest and westernmost of Canada's three territories. It also is the second-least populated province or territory in Canada, with a population of 43,964 as ...
's Transportation Hall of Fame. This means that they are not part of the Canadian honours system and their insignia must be worn on the right side of the chest, similar to organizational medals granted by the Royal Canadian Legion or the
Canadian Cadet Organizations The Canadian Cadet Organizations, marketed under the name of Cadets Canada, are a youth program known as the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets, Royal Canadian Army Cadets, and Royal Canadian Air Cadets. The program is sponsored by the Canadian Armed Fo ...
.


British awards granted prior to 1 June 1972

Any person who, prior to June 1, 1972, was a member of a British order or the recipient of a British decoration or medal may wear the insignia of the decoration or medal together with the insignia of any Canadian order, decoration or medal that the person is entitled to wear, the proper sequence being the following:


Orders and decorations

*
Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...
(VC) * George Cross (GC) * Cross of Valour (CV) * Order of Merit (OM) * Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) *
Companion of the Order of Canada The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the cen ...
(CC) *
Officer of the Order of Canada The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest Award, honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with ...
(OC) * Member of the Order of Canada (CM) *
Commander of the Order of Military Merit "Service before self" , eligibility = Standing membership in the Canadian Forces , criteria = Conspicuous merit and exceptional service , status = Currently constituted , head_title = Sovereign , head = Cha ...
(CMM) * Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces (COM) * Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) * Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) *
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order The Royal Victorian Order (french: Ordre royal de Victoria) is a dynastic order of knighthood established in 1896 by Queen Victoria. It recognises distinguished personal service to the British monarch, Canadian monarch, Australian monarch, o ...
(CVO) *
Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...
(CBE) *
Companion of the Distinguished Service Order The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, as well as formerly of other parts of the Commonwealth, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, ty ...
(DSO) * Officer of the Order of Military Merit (OMM) * Officer of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces (OOM) *
Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order The Royal Victorian Order (french: Ordre royal de Victoria) is a dynastic order of knighthood established in 1896 by Queen Victoria. It recognises distinguished personal service to the British monarch, Canadian monarch, Australian monarch, o ...
(LVO) * Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) *
Companion of the Imperial Service Order The Imperial Service Order was established by King Edward VII in August 1902. It was awarded on retirement to the administration and clerical staff of the Civil Service throughout the British Empire for long and meritorious service. Normally a pe ...
(ISO) * Member of the Order of Military Merit (MMM) *
Member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces The Order of Merit of the Police Forces (french: Ordre du mérite des corps policiers) is an honour for merit that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the only such fellowship reserved for only members of Canada's various police forces. Cr ...
(MOM) *
Member of the Royal Victorian Order The Royal Victorian Order (french: Ordre royal de Victoria) is a dynastic order of knighthood established in 1896 by Queen Victoria. It recognises distinguished personal service to the British monarch, Canadian monarch, Australian monarch, o ...
(MVO) *
Member of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
(MBE) * Member of the Royal Red Cross (RRC) *
Distinguished Service Cross The Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) is a military decoration for courage. Different versions exist for different countries. *Distinguished Service Cross (Australia) The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is a military decoration awarded to ...
(DSC) *
Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level pre-1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth countries. The MC ...
(MC) * Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) * Air Force Cross (AFC) * Star of Military Valour (SMV) * Star of Courage (SC) *
Meritorious Service Cross The Meritorious Service Cross (french: Croix du service méritoire) is a decoration that is, within the Canadian system of honours, one of the two Meritorious Service Decorations gifted by the Canadian monarch, his or her Governor-in-Council. Cr ...
(MSC) *
Medal of Military Valour The Medal of Military Valour (french: Médaille de la vaillance militaire) is a decoration that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the third highest award for military valour, and one of three honours for military valour gifted by the Can ...
(MMV) * Medal of Bravery (MB) *
Meritorious Service Medal A Meritorious Service Medal is an award presented to denote acts of meritorious service, and sometimes gallantry, that are worthy of recognition. Notable medals with similar names include: * Meritorious Civilian Service Award *Meritorious Service Me ...
(MSM) * Associate of the Royal Red Cross (ARRC) * The Most Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem (all grades) (post-nominal letters only for internal use by the Order of St John) * Provincial Orders (order of precedence as set out in current precedence) *
Distinguished Conduct Medal The Distinguished Conduct Medal was a decoration established in 1854 by Queen Victoria for gallantry in the field by other ranks of the British Army. It is the oldest British award for gallantry and was a second level military decoration, ranki ...
(DCM) *
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal The Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM) was, until 1993, a British military decoration for gallantry in action for petty officers and seamen of the Royal Navy, including Warrant Officers and other ranks of the Royal Marines. It was formerly awa ...
(CGM) *
George Medal The George Medal (GM), instituted on 24 September 1940 by King George VI,''British Gallantry Medals'' (Abbott and Tamplin), p. 138 is a decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth, awarded for gallantry, typically by civilians, or in cir ...
(GM) *
Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is a high award of a nation. Examples include: *Distinguished Service Medal (Australia) (established 1991), awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force for distinguished leadership in action * Distinguishe ...
(DSM) *
Military Medal The Military Medal (MM) was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other arms of the armed forces, and to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land. The award ...
(MM) *
Distinguished Flying Medal The Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force and other British Armed Forces, and formerly to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "exceptional va ...
(DFM) *
Air Force Medal The Air Force Medal (AFM) was a military decoration, awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force and other British Armed Forces, and formerly to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, ...
(A.F.M.) *
Queen's Gallantry Medal The Queen's Gallantry Medal (QGM) is a United Kingdom decoration awarded for exemplary acts of bravery where the services were not so outstanding as to merit the George Medal, but above the level required for the Queen's Commendation for Braver ...
(QGM) *
Royal Victorian Medal The Royal Victorian Medal (RVM) is a decoration established by Queen Victoria in April 1896. On 14 May 1912, King George V further confirmed the institution of the medal with an additional royal warrant. A part of the Royal Victorian Order, it ...
(RVM) * British Empire Medal (BEM)


War and operational service medals

*
Queen's South Africa Medal The Queen's South Africa Medal is a British campaign medal awarded to British and Colonial military personnel, and to civilians employed in an official capacity, who served in the Second Boer War in South Africa. Altogether twenty-six clasps wer ...
(1900-1902) *
King's South Africa Medal The King's South Africa Medal is a British campaign medal awarded to all British and Colonial military personnel who served in the Second Boer War in South Africa, and who were in the theatre on or after 1 January 1902 and who had completed 18 m ...
(1902) *
Africa General Service Medal The Africa General Service Medal, established in 1902, was a campaign medal of the United Kingdom. It was awarded for minor campaigns that took place in tropical Africa between 1900 and 1956, with a total of forty five clasps issued. The medal is ...
(1902–56) * India General Service Medal (1908–35) * Naval General Service Medal (1915–62) * India General Service Medal (1936–39) * General Service Medal - Army and Air Force (1918–62) * General Service Medal (1962- ) *
1914 Star The 1914 Star, colloquially known as the Mons Star, is a British World War I campaign medal for service in France or Belgium between 5 August and 22 November 1914. Institution The 1914 Star was authorised under Special Army Order no. 350 in No ...
* 1914–15 Star *
British War Medal The British War Medal is a campaign medal of the United Kingdom which was awarded to officers and men of British and Imperial forces for service in the First World War. Two versions of the medal were produced. About 6.5 million were struck in si ...
(1914–18) * Mercantile Marine War Medal (1914–18) * Victory Medal (1914–18) *
Territorial Force War Medal The Territorial Force War Medal was a campaign medal awarded to members of the Territorial Force, British Territorial Force and Territorial Force Nursing Service who served overseas in World War I. It is the rarest of the five British Great War ...
(1914–19) *
1939-1945 Star World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
*
Atlantic Star The Atlantic Star is a military campaign medal, instituted by the United Kingdom in May 1945 for award to British Commonwealth forces who took part in the Battle of the Atlantic, the longest continuous campaign of the Second World War. Two cl ...
*
Air Crew Europe Star The Air Crew Europe Star is a military campaign medal, instituted by the United Kingdom in May 1945 for award to British and Commonwealth air crews who participated in operational flights over Europe from bases in the United Kingdom during the S ...
*
Africa Star The Africa Star is a military campaign medal, instituted by the United Kingdom on 8 July 1943 for award to British and Commonwealth forces who served in North Africa between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943 during the Second World War. Three clasp ...
*
Pacific Star The Pacific Star is a military campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom in May 1945 for award to British and Commonwealth forces who served in the Pacific Campaign from 1941 to 1945, during the Second World War. One clasp, Burma, was ...
*
Burma Star The Burma Star is a military campaign medal, instituted by the United Kingdom in May 1945 for award to British and Commonwealth forces who served in the Burma Campaign from 1941 to 1945, during the Second World War. One clasp, Pacific, was ...
*
Italy Star The Italy Star is a military campaign medal, instituted by the United Kingdom in May 1945 for award to British Commonwealth forces who served in the Italian Campaign from 1943 to 1945, during the Second World War. The Second World War Stars On ...
*
France and Germany Star The France and Germany Star is a military campaign medal, instituted by the United Kingdom in May 1945 for award to British Commonwealth forces who served in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands or Germany and adjacent sea areas between ...
* Defence Medal * Canadian Volunteer Service Medal * Newfoundland Volunteer War Service Medal (this award has the same precedence as the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal) *
War Medal A war medal is a military decoration awarded in time of war, as opposed to a service medal. It may refer to, for example: *War Medal (Norway) *Campaign medal *Global War on Terrorism Service Medal *British War Medal, British Empire medal for servi ...
(1939–45) *
Korea Medal The Korea Medal (french: Médaille de Corée), sometimes referred to as the Queen's Korea Medal to distinguish it from the United Nations Service Medal, is a campaign medal created in 1951 to recognize troops from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, ...
*
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea (french: Médaille canadienne de service volontaire en Corée) was a campaign medal created in 1991 by the Canadian monarch- in-Council to recognize former members of the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian ...
*
Gulf and Kuwait Medal The Gulf and Kuwait Medal (french: Médaille du Golfe et du Koweït, or ''Médaille du Golfe et du Kuwait'') was a campaign medal created in 1990 to recognize members of the Canadian Forces who had directly participated in the Gulf War, either i ...
* Somalia Medal *
South-West Asia Service Medal The South-West Asia Service Medal (french: Médaille du service en Asie du Sud-Ouest) is a campaign medal created in 2002 by the Canadian monarch- in-Council to recognize members of the Canadian Forces who had directly participated in efforts to c ...
*
General Campaign Star The General Campaign Star (french: Étoile de campagne générale) is a campaign medal created in 2004 by the Canadian monarch- in-Council to recognize members of the Canadian Armed Forces who had directly participated in any military campaign unde ...


Special service medals

Order of Precedence as set out above in current precedence


United nations medals

Order of Precedence as set out above in current precedence


International Commission and Organizational medals

Order of Precedence as set out above in current precedence


Polar medals

The order of precedence is the date on which they are awarded.


Commemorative medals

*
King Edward VII Coronation Medal The King Edward VII Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal issued in 1902 to celebrate the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. Issue The medal was awarded in silver and bronze. It was issued in silver to members of the Royal fa ...
(1902) *
King George V Coronation Medal The King George V Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal instituted in 1911 to celebrate the coronation of King George V, that took place on 22 June 1911. Award It was the first British Royal commemorative medal to be awarded to people who w ...
(1911) * King George V Silver Jubilee Medal (1935) *
King George VI Coronation Medal The King George VI Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal, instituted to celebrate the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. Issue This medal was awarded as a personal souvenir of King George VI's coronation. It was awarded to t ...
(1937) * Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (1953) *
Canadian Centennial Medal The Canadian Centennial Medal (french: Médaille du centenaire du Canada) is a commemorative medal struck by the Royal Canadian Mint in 1967 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation and was awarded to Canadians who were ...
(1967) * Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal (1977) *
125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal The 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal (french: Médaille commémorative du 125e anniversaire de la Confédération du Canada) is a commemorative medal struck by the Royal Canadian Mint to commemorate the 125th anniversary of ...
(1992) * Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002) *
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (french: Médaille du jubilé de diamant de la reine Elizabeth II) or The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 2012 to mark the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's ...
(2012)


Long service and good conduct medals

* Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal * Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal * Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal * R.C.M.P. Long Service Medal * Volunteer Officer's Decoration (VD) * Volunteer Long Service Medal *
Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officer's Decoration The Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration, post-nominal letters VD, was established in 1899 as recognition for long and meritorious service as a part-time commissioned officer in any of the organized military forces of the British Colo ...
(VD) * Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal *
Efficiency Decoration The Efficiency Decoration, post-nominal letters TD for recipients serving in the Territorial Army of the United Kingdom or ED for those serving in the Auxiliary Military Forces, was instituted in 1930 for award to part-time officers after twe ...
(ED) *
Efficiency Medal The Efficiency Medal was instituted in 1930 for award to part-time warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men after twelve years of efficient service on the active list of the Militia or the Territorial Army of the United Kingdom, or ...
* Naval Volunteer Reserve Decoration (VRD) * Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal *
Air Efficiency Award The Air Efficiency Award, post-nominal letters AE for officers, was instituted in 1942. It could be awarded after ten years of meritorious service to officers, airmen and airwomen in the Auxiliary and Volunteer Air Forces of the United Kingdom ...
*
Canadian Forces' Decoration The Canadian Forces' Decoration (post-nominal letters "CD") is a Canadian award bestowed upon members of the Canadian Armed Forces who have completed twelve years of military service, with certain conditions. By convention, it is also given to t ...
(CD)


Exemplary service medals

Order of Precedence as set out above in current precedence


Special medal

*
Queen's Medal for Champion Shot The Queen's Medal for Champion Shot (french: Médaille de la Reine pour tireur d'élite) is a Canadian medal instituted on 28 August 1991 to honour one member each of the Canadian Armed Forces (CF) Regular Force and either the CF Reserve Force ...


Other decorations and medals

Order of Precedence as set out above in current precedence Note—Canadians can still be awarded British Medals as well as Medals from other countries but they must first be approved by the
Government of Canada The government of Canada (french: gouvernement du Canada) is the body responsible for the federal administration of Canada. A constitutional monarchy, the Crown is the corporation sole, assuming distinct roles: the executive, as the ''Crown ...
. (See
Nickle Resolution The Canadian titles debate originated with the presentation to the House of Commons of Canada of the Nickle Resolution in 1917. This resolution marked the earliest attempt to establish a Government of Canada policy requesting the sovereign, in the ...
) These items are worn at the end of the current order of precedence, and one receiving a British Order, Decoration or Medal after 1 June 1972 will abide by the normal order of precedence, not the one catered to pre-1972 awardings.


See also

* List of Canadian provincial and territorial orders *
List of Canadian awards This is a list of all known awards in Canada, conferred by either members of the royal family, viceroys, governments, or private organizations. National awards Royal awards in the federal jurisdiction Viceregal awards in the federal jurisdicti ...
*
Commonwealth realms orders and decorations This article concerns the orders and decorations of the Commonwealth realms awarded by the sovereign in right of each nation. Awards are listed by order of wear. Antigua and Barbuda * Order of the National Hero * Order of the Nation * Order of Me ...
*
Canadian Forces order of precedence All units of the Canadian Armed Forces have an order of precedence that determines seniority; it often decides such matters as which unit forms up to the right (senior side) of other units on a ceremonial parade, or the order in which marches or ...
*
1946 New Year Honours (Canada) The 1946 New Year Honours were appointments by many of the Commonwealth Realms of King George VI to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries, and to celebrate the passing of 1945 and the beginn ...
* 2017 Canada Day Honours * 2018 New Year Honours (Canada) * 2018 Canada Day Honours *
2019 New Year Honours (Canada) The following are the appointments to various Canadian Honours System, Canadian Honours of 2019. Usually, they are announced as part of the New Year and Canada Day celebrations and are published within the Canada Gazette during year. This follows t ...
* 2019 Canada Day Honours * 2020 New Year Honours (Canada)


Notes


Citations


References

* * * * P.C. 2002-1192 dates 3 Nov 2022


External links


Department of National Defence Canadian Honours Chart

''Order of Precedence'' at Governor General of Canada's website

Canadian Forces Administrative Order 18-4 Recommendations for Canadian Orders, Decorations and Military Honours
{{Canadian Honours System Orders, decorations, and medals of Canada Orders of precedence in Canada