Awards of valour
| Ribbon | Honour | Post-nominal letters |
|---|---|---|
 | Recipient of the Victoria Cross | VC |
 | Recipient of the Cross of Valour | CV |
The following is the Canadian order of precedence for decorations and medals in the Canadian Honours System. Where applicable, post-nominal letters are indicated.
| Ribbon | Honour | Post-nominal letters |
|---|---|---|
| | Recipient of the Victoria Cross | VC |
| | Recipient of the Cross of Valour | CV |
| Ribbon | Honour | Post-nominal letters |
|---|---|---|
 | Member of the Order of Merit | OM |
 | Companion of the Order of Canada | CC |
 | Officer of the Order of Canada | OC |
 | Member of the Order of Canada | CM |
 | Commander of the Order of Military Merit | CMM |
 | Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces | COM |
 | Commander of the Royal Victorian Order | CVO |
 | 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 | LVO |
 | Member of the Order of Military Merit | MMM |
 | Member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces | MOM |
| | Member of the Royal Victorian Order | MVO |
 | Bailiff/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St. John | GCStJ [n 1] |
| | Knight/Dame of the Order of St. John | KStJ/DStJ [n 1] |
| | Commander of the Order of St. John | CStJ [n 1] |
| | Officer of the Order of St. John | OStJ [n 1] |
| | Member of the Order of St. John | MStJ [n 1] |
| Ribbon | Honour | Post-nominal letters |
|---|---|---|
 | Grand Officer of the National Order of Quebec | GOQ |
 | Officer of the National Order of Quebec | OQ |
 | Knight of the National Order of Quebec | CQ |
 | Member of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit | SOM |
 | Member of the Order of Ontario | OOnt |
 | Member of the Order of British Columbia | OBC |
 | Member of the Alberta Order of Excellence | AOE |
 | Member of the Order of Prince Edward Island | OPEI |
 | Member of the Order of Manitoba | OM |
 | Member of the Order of New Brunswick | ONB |
 | Member of the Order of Nova Scotia | ONS |
 | Member of the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador | ONL |
| Ribbon | Honour | Post-nominal letters |
|---|---|---|
 | Member of the Order of Nunavut | ONu |
 | Member of the Order of the Northwest Territories | ONWT |
 | Member of the Order of Yukon | OY |
| Ribbon | Honour | Post-nominal letters |
|---|---|---|
 | Recipient of the Star of Military Valour | SMV |
 | Recipient of the Star of Courage | SC |
 | Recipient of the Meritorious Service Cross (military division) | MSC |
 | Recipient of the Meritorious Service Cross (civilian division) | MSC |
 | Recipient of the Medal of Military Valour | MMV |
 | Recipient of the Medal of Bravery | MB |
 | Recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal (military division) | MSM |
 | Recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal (civil division) | MSM |
| | Recipient of the Royal Victorian Medal | RVM |
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.
| Ribbon | Honour | Post-nominal letters |
|---|---|---|
 | Recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain |
| Ribbon | Honour |
|---|---|
 | Recipient of the Sacrifice Medal |
Certain national medals are recognized as a part of the Canadian honours system but are not included in the Order in Council that sets out the precedence of honours, decorations, and medals in Canada.
| Ribbon | Honour |
|---|---|
 | Recipient of the Memorial Cross |
| Ribbon | Honour |
|---|---|
 | Recipient of the Korea Medal |
 | Recipient of the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea |
 | Recipient of the Gulf and Kuwait Medal |
 | Recipient of the Somalia Medal |
 | Recipient of the South-West Asia Service Medal |
| Recipient of the General Campaign Star | |
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| Recipient of the General Service Medal | |
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| Recipient of the Operational Service Medal | |
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| Ribbon | Honour | |
|---|---|---|
 | Recipient of the Special Service Medal with Bars [n 1]
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 | Recipient of the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal | |
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| Ribbon | Honour |
|---|---|
 | Recipient of the Korea Medal |
 | Recipient of the Emergency Force (Egypt and Sinai) Medal |
 | Recipient of the Truce Supervision Organization in Palestine (UNTSO) and United Nations Observation Group in Lebanon (UNOGIL) |
 | Recipient of the Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan Medal |
 | Recipient of the Congo Medal |
 | Recipient of the Temporary Executive Authority in West New Guinea Medal |
 | Recipient of the Yemen Observer Mission Medal |
 | Recipient of the Cyprus Medal |
| | Recipient of the India/Pakistan Observation Mission Medal |
 | Recipient of the Emergency Force Middle East Medal |
 | Recipient of the Disengagement Observer Force in Golan Heights Medal |
 | Recipient of the Interim Force in Lebanon Medal |
 | Recipient of the Military Observer Group in Iran and Iraq Medal |
 | Recipient of the Transition Assistance Group in Namibia Medal |
 | Recipient of the Observer Group in Central America Medal |
 | Recipient of the Observer Mission in Iraq and Kuwait Medal |
 | Recipient of the Angola Verification Mission Medal |
 | Recipient of the Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara Medal |
 | Recipient of the Observer Mission in El Salvador Medal |
 | Recipient of the Protection Force in Yugoslavia Medal |
 | Recipient of the Advance Mission in Cambodia Medal |
 | Recipient of the Transitional Authority in Cambodia Medal |
 | Recipient of the Operation in Somalia Medal |
 | Recipient of the Operation in Mozambique Medal |
 | Recipient of the Observation Mission in Uganda and Rwanda Medal |
 | Recipient of the Assistance Mission in Rwanda Medal |
 | Recipient of the Mission in Haiti Medal |
 | Recipient of the Verification of Human Rights and Compliance with the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights in Guatemala Medal |
 | Recipient of the Verification Mission in the Central African Republic Medal |
 | Recipient of the Preventive Deployment Force in Macedonia Medal |
 | Recipient of the Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina Medal |
 | Recipient of the Observer Group in Prevlaka Medal |
 | Recipient of the Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo Medal |
 | Recipient of the Observer Mission in Sierra Leone Medal |
 | Recipient of the Transitional Administration in East Timor Medal |
 | Recipient of the Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Medal |
 | Recipient of the Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea Medal |
 | Recipient of the Stabilization Mission in Haiti |
| Recipient of the Operation in Côte d'Ivoire | |
 | Recipient of the Mission in Sudan |
 | Recipient of the Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste |
 | Recipient of the Hybrid Mission with the African Union in Darfur |
 | Recipient of the Mission in South Sudan |
 | Recipient of the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali |
 | Recipient of the Special Service Medal |
 | Recipient of the Headquarters Medal |
Certain United Nations medals are recognized as a part of the Canadian honours system but are not included in the Order in Council that sets out the precedence of honours, decorations, and medals in Canada.
| Ribbon | Honour |
|---|---|
 | Recipient of the UN Good Offices Mission in Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| Ribbon | Honour |
|---|---|
 | Recipient of the Medal for Yugoslavia |
 | Recipient of the Medal for Kosovo |
 | Recipient of the Medal for Macedonia |
 | Recipient of the Article 5 Medal for Operation Eagle Assist |
 | Recipient of the Article 5 Medal for Operation Active Endeavour |
 | Recipient of the Non-Article 5 Medal for the Balkans |
 | Recipient of the Non-Article 5 Medal for ISAF |
 | Recipient of the Non-Article 5 Medal for Pakistan |
 | Recipient of the Non-Article 5 Medal for Training Mission in Iraq |
 | Recipient of the Non-Article 5 Medal for Logistical Support in Sudan |
 | Recipient of the Non-Article 5 Medal for Africa |
 | Recipient of the Non-Article 5 Medal for Operation Unified Protector |
 | Recipient of the Non-Article 5 Medal for Operation Sea Guardian |
| Ribbon | Honour |
|---|---|
 | Recipient of the International Commission for Supervision and Control Medal; Indo-China, 1954–1973 |
 | Recipient of the International Commission of Control and Supervision Medal; Vietnam, 1973 |
 | Recipient of the Multinational Force and Observers Medal; Sinai, 1982- |
 | Recipient of the European Community Monitor Mission Medal; Yugoslavia, 1991- |
 | Recipient of the International Force East Timor Medal; 1999-2000 |
 | Recipient of the European Security and Defence Policy Service Medals |
| Ribbon | Honour |
|---|---|
 | Recipient of the Polar Medal |
 | Recipient of the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers |
| Ribbon | Honour |
|---|---|
 | Recipient of the Canadian Centennial Medal |
 | Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal |
 | Recipient of the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal |
 | Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal |
 | Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal |
 | Recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal |
| Ribbon | Honour | Post-nominal letters |
|---|---|---|
 | Recipient of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Long Service Medal | |
 | Recipient of the Canadian Forces' Decoration | CD |
| Ribbon | Honour |
|---|---|
 | Recipient of the Police Exemplary Service Medal |
 | Recipient of the Corrections Exemplary Service Medal |
 | Recipient of the Fire Services Exemplary Service Medal |
 | Recipient of the Canadian Coast Guard Exemplary Service Medal |
 | Recipient of the Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal |
 | Recipient of the Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal |
| Ribbon | Honour |
|---|---|
 | Recipient of the Queen's Medal for Champion Shot |
| Ribbon | Honour | Post-nominal letters |
|---|---|---|
 | Recipient of the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship | OMC |
 | Recipient of the Ontario Medal for Police Bravery | |
 | Recipient of the Ontario Medal for Firefighters Bravery | |
 | Recipient of the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal | SVM |
 | Recipient of the Ontario Provincial Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal | |
 | Recipient of the Service Medal of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem | |
 | Recipient of the Commissionaires Long Service Medal | |
| Recipient of the Newfoundland and Labrador Bravery Award | ||
 | Recipient of the Newfoundland and Labrador Volunteer Service Medal | |
 | Recipient of the British Columbia Fire Services Bravery Medal | |
 | Recipient of the British Columbia Fire Services Long Service Medal | |
 | Recipient of the Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of Saskatchewan | |
 | Recipient of the Alberta Centennial Medal | |
 | Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal [lower-alpha 1] |
There are a number of honours and medals administered by provincial, territorial, and municipal governments, which are not on the list, such as the Order of Polaris, membership in which is awarded by the government of Yukon'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.
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:
The order of precedence is the date on which they are awarded.
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. (See Nickle Resolution) 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.
In the United Kingdom and the British Overseas Territories, personal bravery, achievement, or service are rewarded with honours. The honours system consists of three types of award:
The Order of Canada 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.
Orders of Commonwealth countries.
The Order of Merit is an order of merit for the Commonwealth realms, recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or the promotion of culture. Established in 1902 by Edward VII, admission into the order remains the personal gift of its Sovereign—currently Edward VII's great-great-grandson Charles III—and is restricted to a maximum of 24 living recipients from the Commonwealth realms, plus honorary members. While all members are awarded the right to use the post-nominal letters OM and wear the badge of the order, the Order of Merit's precedence among other honours differs between countries.
The New Zealand royal honours system, a system of orders, decorations and medals, recognises achievements of, or service by, New Zealanders or others in connection with New Zealand. Until 1975, New Zealand used the British honours system. Since then the country has introduced a number of uniquely New Zealand honours, and as of 2021, only the dynastic British honours continue in active use in New Zealand, with the exception of the Order of the Companions of Honour.
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, ranking below the Victoria Cross, until it was discontinued in 1993 when it was replaced by the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross. The medal was also awarded to non-commissioned military personnel of other Commonwealth Dominions and Colonies.
To be mentioned in dispatches describes a member of the armed forces whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy is described.
The orders, decorations, and medals of Canada comprise a complex system by which Canadians are honoured by the country's sovereign for actions or deeds that benefit their community or the country at large. Modelled on its British predecessor, the structure originated in the 1930s, but began to come to full fruition at the time of Canada's centennial in 1967, with the establishment of the Order of Canada, and has since grown in both size and scope to include dynastic and national orders, state, civil, and military decorations; and various campaign medals. The monarch in right of each Canadian province also issues distinct orders and medals to honour residents for work performed in just their province. The provincial honours, as with some of their national counterparts, grant the use of post-nominal letters and or supporters and other devices to be used on personal coats of arms.
The orders, decorations, and medals of the Canadian provinces, in which each province of Canada has devised a system of orders and other awards to honour residents for actions or deeds that benefit their local community or province, are in turn subsumed within the Canadian honours system. Each province sets its own rules and criteria for eligibility and also for how each award is presented. Most of the awards allow for the recipients to wear their awards in public, and most grant the recipients the use of post-nominal letters after their names. Not all of the awards listed below are part of the Canadian honours system, thus some of them may not be worn or court mounted with awards that are part of the Canadian honours system.
The Papua New Guinean honours system is the main system of honouring citizens of Papua New Guinea for their services to the country; it consists of three Orders and several medals. After independence, Papua New Guinea used the Imperial honours system, however, in recognition of the nation's 30th anniversary, a new awards system was adopted. The official announcement of its creation was made by Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare on 12 November 2004 and the first investitures were performed by the Princess Royal in early October 2005. The Imperial honours system is still in use as well, however, and the King issues a Papua New Guinean List as part of every Birthday and New Year Honours List.
The 1914–15 Star is a campaign medal of the British Empire which was awarded to all who served in the British and Imperial forces in any theatre of the First World War against the Central European Powers during 1914 and 1915. The medal was never awarded singly and recipients also received the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The British War Medal is a campaign medal of the United Kingdom which was awarded to officers and men and women 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 silver and 110,000 in bronze, the latter awarded to, among others, the Chinese, Maltese and Indian Labour Corps.
The Governor-General of Australia has, at irregular intervals, notified for general information notifies the positioning of wearing of Australian orders, decorations and medals in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. The Order of Wearing Australian Honours and Awards was last published in 2007.
The orders, decorations, and medals of Luxembourg have their foundation in the Duchy of Nassau. The top tier order of Luxembourg being the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau is the House Order of the House of Nassau. The next in the order of honours precedence is the Order of Adolphe of Nassau, was founded by Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, in 1858 while he was the last reigning Duke of Nassau.
The Order of Wearing of Australian honours includes Imperial honours if they were awarded prior to 6 October 1992. Imperial honours awarded after 5 October 1992 are considered foreign.
In 1895, Queen Victoria authorised Colonial governments to adopt various British military decorations and medals and to award them to their local military forces. The Colony of Natal introduced this system in August 1895 and, in 1897, instituted the Distinguished Conduct Medal (Natal), post-nominal letters DCM.
In May 1895, Queen Victoria authorised Colonial governments to adopt various British military medals and to award them to their local military forces. The Colony of Natal introduced this system in August 1895 and, in 1897, instituted the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Natal).
The Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood has, at irregular intervals, notified for general information the positioning of the wearing of Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom in the London Gazette. The Order of Wear was last published in 2019.
| Awards of valour | |
|---|---|
| National orders | |
| Dynastic orders | |
| Provincial orders | |
| Territorial orders | |
| Other decorations and medals | |
| Canadian honours lists | |
