Christopher McCreery

Christopher McCreery MVO FRCGS FRHSC
McCreery in 2012
Born	1975 (age 49–50) Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Occupation	Historian
Notable work	The Order of Canada: Its Origins, History and Development (2005)
Website	www.cpmccreery.com

Christopher McCreery (born 1975) is a Canadian historian known for his expertise in the area of orders, decorations, and medals, particularly in Canada and the Commonwealth. He has served as the Private Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia since 2009, and has authored several books on the history of national and provincial awards.

Biography

Christopher McCreery was born in Kingston, Ontario in 1975. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Huron University College in 1998, ^[1] and graduated with a PhD in Canadian political history from Queen's University at Kingston in 2003. ^[2] After graduating, he served as Executive Assistant to the Canadian Senator Michael Kirby from 2004 to 2006. He became the Senior Policy Advisor to the Speaker of the Senate in 2006, a position he held for one year. ^[3] McCreery has held the position of Private Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia since 2009, ^[4] and in that capacity serves as Executive Director of Government House and Secretary of the Order of Nova Scotia. ^[5]

McCreery is recognized for his expertise in the area of orders, decorations, and medals in the Commonwealth; he has authored several books on the subject. ^[6] His 2005 book The Order of Canada: Its Origins, History and Development received an endorsement from Queen Elizabeth II. ^[7] He is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and has served as the National Historian for the St John Ambulance and the Order of Saint John. ^[3]

Publications

• — (2005). The Order of Canada: Its Origins, History and Development. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. ISBN   978-0-8020-3940-8. ^[8]
• — (2005). The Canadian Honours System . Foreword by General John de Chastelain (1st ed.). Toronto: Dundurn Press. ISBN   978-1-5500-2554-5. ^[9]
• — (2007). On Her Majesty's Service: Royal Honours and Recognition in Canada . Foreword by Anne, Princess Royal. Toronto: Dundurn Press. ISBN   978-1-5500-2742-6.
• — (2008). The Maple Leaf and the White Cross: A History of St. John Ambulance and the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in Canada. Foreword by Michaëlle Jean. Toronto: Dundurn Press. ISBN   978-1-5500-2740-2. ^[10]
• — (2008). The Beginner's Guide to Canadian Honours. Foreword by Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex. Toronto: Dundurn Press. ISBN   978-1-5500-2748-8. ^[11]
• —; Milnes, Arthur (2009). The Authentic Voice of Canada: R.B. Bennett Speeches in the House of Lords, 1941–1947. Foreword by John Turner. Montreal: McGill–Queen's University Press. ISBN   978-1-5533-9275-0.
• — (2010). The Canadian Forces' Decoration. Ottawa: Department of National Defence. OCLC   956655078.
• —; Pike, Corianna (2011). Canadian Symbols of Authority: Maces, Chains and Rods of Office. Forewords by Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Terrance Christopher. Toronto: Dundurn Press. ISBN   978-1-5548-8901-3. ^[12]
• — (2012). The Order of Military Merit . Ottawa: Department of National Defence. ISBN   978-1-1002-0634-9.
• — (2012). Commemorative Medals of The Queen's Reign in Canada, 1952–2012 . Toronto: Dundurn Press. ISBN   978-1-4597-0756-6.
• — (2014). Maintiens Le Droit: Recognizing Service: A History of the RCMP Long Service Medal. Ottawa: Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
• — (2014). Savoir Faire, Savoir Vivre: Rideau Club 1865–2015 . Toronto: Dundurn Press. ISBN   978-1-4597-1756-5.
• — (2015). The Canadian Honours System. Foreword by General John de Chastelain (2nd ed.). Toronto: Dundurn Press. ISBN   978-1-4597-2415-0.
• — (2016). Fifty Years Honouring Canadians: The Order of Canada, 1967–2017. Foreword by Jean Vanier. Toronto: Dundurn Press. ISBN   978-1-4597-3657-3.
• — (2017). The Order of Canada: Genesis of an Honours System. Forewords by Queen Elizabeth II and David Johnston. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. ISBN   978-1-4875-0094-8.
• — (2020). Government House Halifax: A Place of History and Gathering. Foreword by Charles, Prince of Wales. Fredericton, N.B.: Goose Lane Editions. ISBN   978-1-7731-0201-6.
• —; Smith, David E.; Shanks, Jonathan (2022). Canada's Deep Crown: Beyond Elizabeth II, The Crown's Continuing Canadian Complexion. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. ISBN   978-1-4875-4075-3. ^[13]

Awards and honours

• Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002) ^[14]
• Member of the Royal Victorian Order (2010) ^[15]
• Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012) ^[16]
• Fellow of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada (2013) ^[17]
• King Charles III Coronation Medal (2025) ^[18]

References

Citations

1. TWUC (2022).
2. Queen's University (2010); McCreery (2022).
3. Queen's University (2010).
4. McCreery (2022).
5. LGNS (2025).
6. Harrison (2005); Queen's University (2010).
7. Boswell (2005); HNN (2005).
8. Arnett (2005); Champion (2006); Geiger (2005); Harrison (2005); Heydel-Mankoo (2006); Smith (2008).
9. Champion (2006); Frank (2005); Granatstein (2005).
10. Stuart (2008); Sullivan (2008).
11. Jenkinson (2008).
12. Munro (2012); Treble (2011).
13. Buckner (2022).
14. Governor General (2002).
15. Governor General (2010); McCreery (2022).
16. Governor General (2012).
17. RHSC (2022).
18. Governor General (2025).

Sources

• Arnett, Janet (2005). "Review of The Order of Canada: Its Origins, History, and Development". Canadian Book Review Annual Online. Toronto: University of Toronto Libraries . Retrieved 15 October 2025.
• Boswell, Randy (15 October 2005). "Queen gives plug to book on history of Order of Canada". Times Colonist . p. A9. Retrieved 15 October 2025– via Newspapers.com.
• Buckner, Phillip (2022). "Review of Canada's Deep Crown: Beyond Elizabeth II, The Crown's Continuing Canadian Complexion". British Journal of Canadian Studies . 34 (2). Liverpool University Press: 262–263. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
• Champion, C. P. (2006). "The Order of Canada: Its Origins, History, and Development/The Canadian Honours System". The American Review of Canadian Studies. 36 (4): 669. Retrieved 15 October 2025– via ProQuest.
• Frank, Charles (7 May 2005). "Anniversary produces raft of books". Calgary Herald . p. 98. Retrieved 15 October 2025– via Newspapers.com.
• Geiger, John (13 May 2005). "An honourable legacy". National Post . p. 20. Retrieved 15 October 2025– via Newspapers.com.
• [Governor General] (2002). "Mr. Christopher McCreery: Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee Medal". Ottawa: Governor General of Canada . Retrieved 15 October 2025.
• [Governor General] (2010). "Newly Appointed Recipients of the Royal Victorian Order" (PDF). Ottawa: Governor General of Canada. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 December 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
• [Governor General] (2012). "Christopher McCreery: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Medal". Ottawa: Governor General of Canada . Retrieved 15 October 2025.
• [Governor General] (2025). "Christopher McCreery: King Charles III Coronation Medal". Ottawa: Governor General of Canada . Retrieved 15 October 2025.
• Granatstein, J. L. (2005). "Review of The Canadian Honours System". Canadian Book Review Annual Online. Toronto: University of Toronto Libraries . Retrieved 15 October 2025.
• Harrison, Brock (26 October 2005). "Nation's story is in Order: Student becomes accidental expert in Canada's honours". The Kingston Whig-Standard . p. 4. Retrieved 15 October 2025– via Newspapers.com.
• Heydel-Mankoo, Rafe (September 2006). "Book review: "The Order of Canada: Its Origins, History & Development" by Christopher McCreery Ph.D". Journal of the Orders and Medals Research Society. 45 (3): 218. ISSN   0308-8995 . Retrieved 15 October 2025.
• [HNN] (15 October 2005). "Christopher McCreery: Queen Elizabeth Plugs His Book". History News Network . University of Richmond . Retrieved 15 October 2025.
• Jenkinson, Dave (2008). "Review of The Beginner's Guide to Canadian Honours". Canadian Book Review Annual Online. Toronto: University of Toronto Libraries . Retrieved 15 October 2025.
• McCreery, Christopher (2022). "Biography". cpmccreery.com. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
• [LGNS] (2025). "Government House: Household". Halifax, N.S.: Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia . Retrieved 15 October 2025.
• Munro, Kenneth (June 2012). "Review of Canadian Symbols of Authority: Maces, Chains, and Rods of Office". The Canadian Historical Review . 93 (2). University of Toronto Press: 326–328. doi:10.1353/can.2012.0013.
• [Queen's University] (2010). "Christopher McCreery". Alumni Stories. Kingston, ON: Queen's University . Retrieved 15 October 2025.
• [RHSC] (2022). "RHSC Fellows". Ottawa: Royal Heraldry Society of Canada . Retrieved 15 October 2025.
• Smith, Allan (2008). "Review of The Order of Canada: Its Origins, History, and Development". The Canadian Historical Review . 89 (3). University of Toronto Press: 456–457. doi:10.1353/can.0.0104.
• Stuart, Linda (2008). "Review of The Maple Leaf and the White Cross: A History of St. John's Ambulance and the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in Canada". Canadian Book Review Annual Online. Toronto: University of Toronto Libraries . Retrieved 15 October 2025.
• Sullivan, Pat (4 November 2008). "Evolution at the St. John Ambulance". Canadian Medical Association Journal . 179 (10). Canadian Medical Association: 332. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.081650 .
• Treble, Patricia (15 September 2011). "Review: Canadian Symbols of authority: Maces, chains and rods of office". Maclean's . Retrieved 15 October 2025.
• [TWUC] (2022). "Christopher McCreery". Toronto: The Writers' Union of Canada. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2025.

External links

• Official website
• Christopher McCreery at 49th Shelf, Association of Canadian Publishers
• Christopher McCreery (Video). Cable Public Affairs Channel. 2010.
• Works by Christopher McCreery at Open Library