Order of Canada

The Order of Canada recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community, and service to the nation, in all sectors of Canadian society. The Order of Canada's motto is Desiderantes Meliorem Patriam: “They desire a better country.”

More information

Eligibility

1. Nominators: Any person or group may nominate
2. Nominees: Any Canadian citizen may be appointed to the Order

Nomination Process

It takes 1 to 1.5 years for nominations to be processed by the Advisory Council. Approximately 700-800 applications are received each year. Advisory Council consists of the Chief Justice of Canada, the Clerk of the Privy Council, the Deputy Minister of the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Chairperson of the Canada Council, the President of the Royal Society of Canada, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, and five additional appointed members.

A full nomination package will consist of:

A completed online nomination form;
The rationale for the nomination (maximum 10,00 characters);
A resume including professional activities/occupations, active participation in organizations, official honours/awards, and other related information that might assist the Advisory Council in making its decision; and
The names and contact informaiton for three references who could support the nomination and provide details about why the nominee deserves the honour. They must be familiar with the achievements of the nominee.

*optional supporting materials (including letters, media coverage, a current CV, abstracts, short publications, etc.) can be emailed directly to ordersadmin@gg.ca

Strong nominations include answers to the following questions:

• What makes your candidate stand out from their peers?
• What puts them in the top level of accomplishment in their field?
• How have they earned the respect of peers and become a role model in their field?
• What was it like before the candidate began their work? How has the situation improved?
• What impact did they have on society, and how widely does it reach?
• How have they demonstrated ongoing leadership, initiative, creativity and dedication?