Canadian honours order of wearing

This article is about the list of precedence for medals, honours, and post-nominals. For the order of precedence for Canadian dignitaries, see Canadian order of precedence.

The order of wear for decorations and medals of Canada is published by the Governor General of Canada.^[1]

Awards of valour

Ribbon	Honour	Post-nominal letters
	Recipient of the Victoria Cross	VC
	Recipient of the Cross of Valour	CV

National orders

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]

1. Postnominal letters for this order are only used within the order itself.

Provincial orders

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

Territorial orders

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

National decorations

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

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.

Ribbon	Honour	Post-nominal letters
	Recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain

National medals

Ribbon	Honour
	Recipient of the Sacrifice Medal

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 that sets out the precedence of honours, decorations, and medals in Canada.

Ribbon	Honour
	Recipient of the Memorial Cross

War and operational service medals

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
	Allied Force
	South-West Asia
	Expedition
	Recipient of the General Service Medal
	Allied Force
	South-West Asia
	Expedition
	Recipient of the Operational Service Medal
	South-West Asia
	Sierra Leone
	Haiti
	Sudan
	Humanitas
	Expedition

Special service medals

Ribbon	Honour
	Recipient of the Special Service Medal with Bars[n 1] Pakistan 1989-90 Alert Peace/Paix NATO/OTAN Humanitas Ranger Expedition Distantia
	Recipient of the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal
Bars worn with first earned nearest the medal; when ribbon is worn, a silver, gold or red maple leaf is worn to show a 2nd, 3rd, 4th or subsequent bar.

United Nations medals

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

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 that sets out the precedence of honours, decorations, and medals in Canada.

Ribbon	Honour
	Recipient of the UN Good Offices Mission in Afghanistan & Pakistan

North Atlantic Treaty Organization medals

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

International mission medals

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

Polar and Volunteer medals

Ribbon	Honour
	Recipient of the Polar Medal
	Recipient of the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers

Commemorative medals

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

Long service and good conduct medals

Ribbon	Honour	Post-nominal letters
	Recipient of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Long Service Medal
	Recipient of the Canadian Forces' Decoration	CD

Exemplary service medals

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

Special medals

Ribbon	Honour
	Recipient of the Queen's Medal for Champion Shot

Other decorations and medals

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[a]

• 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, 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.

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

• Recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC)
• Recipient of the George Cross (GC)
• Recipient of the Cross of Valour (CV)
• Member of the Order of Merit (OM)
• Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH)
• 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)
• 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 (CVO)
• Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
• Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (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 (LVO)
• Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
• Companion of the Imperial Service Order (ISO)
• 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)
• Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
• Member of the Royal Red Cross (RRC)
• Recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
• Recipient of the Military Cross (MC)
• Recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
• Recipient of the Air Force Cross (AFC)
• Recipient of the Star of Military Valour (SMV)
• Recipient of the Star of Courage (SC)
• Recipient of the Meritorious Service Cross (MSC)
• Recipient of the Medal of Military Valour (MMV)
• Recipient of the Medal of Bravery (MB)
• Meritorious Service Medal (MSM)
• Associate of the Royal Red Cross (ARRC)
• (Insert membership grade) of the Order of St John (post-nominal letters only for internal use by the Order of St John)
• Provincial Orders (order of precedence as set out in current precedence)
• Recipient of the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)
• Recipient of the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM)
• Recipient of the George Medal (GM)
• Recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM)
• Recipient of the Military Medal (MM)
• Recipient of the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM)
• Recipient of the Air Force Medal (AFM)
• Recipient of the Queen's Gallantry Medal (QGM)
• Recipient of the Royal Victorian Medal (RVM)
• Recipient of the British Empire Medal (BEM)

War and operational service medals

• Recipient of the Queen's South Africa Medal (1900–1902)
• Recipient of the King's South Africa Medal (1902)
• Recipient of the Africa General Service Medal (1902–56)
• Recipient of the India General Service Medal (1908–35)
• Recipient of the Naval General Service Medal (1915–62)
• Recipient of the India General Service Medal (1936–39)
• Recipient of the General Service Medal - Army and Air Force (1918–62)
• Recipient of the General Service Medal (1962–)
• Recipient of the 1914 Star
• Recipient of the 1914–15 Star
• Recipient of the British War Medal (1914–18)
• Recipient of the Mercantile Marine War Medal (1914–18)
• Recipient of the Victory Medal (1914–18)
• Recipient of the Territorial Force War Medal (1914–19)
• Recipient of the 1939-1945 Star
• Recipient of the Atlantic Star
• Recipient of the Air Crew Europe Star
• Recipient of the Africa Star
• Recipient of the Pacific Star
• Recipient of the Burma Star
• Recipient of the Italy Star
• Recipient of the France and Germany Star
• Recipient of the Defence Medal
• Recipient of the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
• Recipient of the Newfoundland Volunteer War Service Medal (this award has the same precedence as the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal)
• Recipient of the War Medal (1939–45)
• 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

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

• Recipient of the King Edward VII Coronation Medal (1902)
• Recipient of the King George V Coronation Medal (1911)
• Recipient of the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal (1935)
• Recipient of the King George VI Coronation Medal (1937)
• Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (1953)
• Recipient of the Canadian Centennial Medal (1967)
• Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal (1977)
• Recipient of the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal (1992)
• Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002)
• Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012)

Long service and good conduct medals

• Recipient of the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
• Recipient of the Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
• Recipient of the Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
• Recipient of the RCMP Long Service Medal
• Recipient of the Volunteer Officer's Decoration (VD)
• Recipient of the Volunteer Long Service Medal
• Recipient of the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officer's Decoration (VD)
• Recipient of the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal
• Recipient of the Efficiency Decoration (ED)
• Recipient of the Efficiency Medal
• Recipient of the Naval Volunteer Reserve Decoration (VRD)
• Recipient of the Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
• Recipient of the Air Efficiency Award
• Recipient of the Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD)

Exemplary service medals

Order of Precedence as set out above in current precedence

Special medal

• Recipient of the Queen's Medal for Champion Shot

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. (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.

See also

• Canada portal

• List of Canadian provincial and territorial orders
• List of Canadian awards
• Commonwealth realms orders and decorations
• Canadian Forces order of precedence
• 1946 New Year Honours (Canada)
• 2017 Canada Day Honours
• 2018 New Year Honours (Canada)
• 2018 Canada Day Honours
• 2019 New Year Honours (Canada)
• 2019 Canada Day Honours
• 2020 New Year Honours (Canada)

Notes

1. The lieutenant governors-in-council of six provinces created commemorative medals for the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II. These medals were added to the order of precedence on November 3, 2022 by an Order-in-Council, ranking below the Alberta Centennial Medal.^[2]