Member of the Order of Canada

Member of the Order of Canada
Name	Member of the Order of Canada
Awarded for	A lifetime of distinguished service in or to a particular community, group or field of activity.
Country	Canada
Type	National order
Eligibility	All Canadian citizens
Status	Currently constituted
Founder	Elizabeth II
Motto	Desiderantes meliorem patriam, ("They desire a better country")
Grades	Companion, Member, Officer
Date	1 July 1972
First award	1967
Post-nominals	CM

Member of the Order of Canada. It is one of the three tiers of Canada's pre-eminent system of honours, established to recognize outstanding achievement and service to the nation. Appointments are made on the recommendation of an independent advisory council and formally approved by the Governor General. Recipients are entitled to use the post-nominal letters CM and are invested with a distinctive insignia at a ceremony, often held at Rideau Hall.

History and establishment

The Order of Canada was formally established on 1 July 1967, the centennial of Canadian Confederation, by Elizabeth II on the advice of her Prime Minister, Lester B. Pearson. The creation of a distinctly Canadian honours system was championed by Pearson and his Secretary of State, Judy LaMarsh, to foster national unity and identity. The original structure, with only the Companion grade, was revised in 1972 following a review led by the Chief Justice, Bora Laskin, which added the Member and Officer levels to better recognize a wider range of contributions from citizens across the country.

Appointment process and criteria

Appointments are made by the Governor General, who acts on the confidential recommendations of the Advisory Council for the Order of Canada. This council is chaired by the Chief Justice and includes the Clerk of the Privy Council, the Commissioner of the RCMP, the President of the Canadian Museum of History, and several other distinguished members. Nominations can be submitted by any member of the public, and the council evaluates candidates based on a lifetime of distinguished service in or to a particular community, group, or field of activity within Canada.

Insignia and privileges

The insignia for a Member is a stylized, six-pointed snowflake with a red annulus at its centre, bearing a maple leaf and the motto of the Order of Canada, Desiderantes meliorem patriam, which is taken from the Epistle to the Hebrews. It is worn suspended from a ribbon of white with red edges. Recipients are presented with the insignia at an investiture ceremony, typically conducted at Rideau Hall or occasionally at other locations like the Citadelle of Quebec. While the honour confers no title or monetary award, recipients are permitted to use the post-nominal letters CM for life and may request a grant of arms from the Governor General that incorporates symbols of the Order.

Notable recipients

Thousands of Canadians from diverse fields have been appointed as Members. Notable recipients include humanitarian Jean Vanier, founder of L'Arche; pioneering environmentalist David Suzuki; hockey legend Maurice Richard; singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot; and author Margaret Atwood. The honour also recognizes countless individuals for localized or specialized service, such as community volunteers, Indigenous leaders, educators, healthcare workers, and artists whose work has had a significant impact within Canada.

Levels and precedence

The Member is the third and most populous level of the Order of Canada, following the Companion (CC) and the Officer (OC). In the Canadian order of precedence for honours, it ranks after the Order of Military Merit but before most other Canadian decorations. The creation of the three-tier system in 1972 allowed for a more nuanced recognition of service, with the Member grade specifically intended to honour local or specialized contributions as opposed to national or international impact.

Revocation of appointments

Appointments can be terminated and insignia must be returned if a recipient is convicted of a criminal offence or their actions are deemed to have brought the Order of Canada into disrepute. The authority to revoke rests with the Governor General, acting on the advice of the Advisory Council for the Order of Canada. Notable revocations have included figures like Steve Fonyo and Alan Eagleson, following their criminal convictions. The process underscores the high standard of conduct expected of those who have received this national honour.

Category:Orders, decorations, and medals of Canada Category:Members of the Order of Canada