The Canadian Honours System was created in 1967. It is divided into three main categories, Orders, Medals and Decorations.
“The purpose of Honours is to reward service or valorous acts and to accord recognition to those who, according to the state are deemed to merit such………
Orders are societies of honour that are instituted by the state, usually to recognize lifelong exemplary service of the highest caliber. Orders are usually divided into several different levels to allow for recognition of those who have rendered service at both the national/international level and at the local or regional level”
There are five national orders in the Canadian Honours System:
- The Order of Canada
- The Order of Military Merit
- The Order of Merit of the Police Forces
- The Royal Victorian Order
- The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (The Order of St. John)
The Order of St. John – A Canadian Honour
The Order of St. John is a humanitarian order recognized as a national order in the Canadian Honours System in 1990.
The Insignia of the Order is a white eight-pointed cross embellished in the four principal angles alternately with a lion and a unicorn. The four arms of the cross signify the virtues of prudence, temperance, justice and fortitude. The eight points signify humility, compassion, courtesy, devotion, mercy, purity, peace and endurance.
The Insignia of the Order may be worn with other decorations, medals and badges that have also been granted or authorized by the Sovereign, the Queen of Canada.
The Order of St. John is divided into the following Grades:
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Grade I |
Bailiffs or Dames Grand Cross (GCStJ) |
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Grade II |
Knights or Dames of Justice or Grace (KStJ or DStJ); (NB only those persons entitled to bear Arms can be classified as “of Justice” within this Grade; the others are classified as “of Grace”) |
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Grade III |
Commanders (CStJ) |
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Grade IV |
Officers (OStJ) |
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Grade V |
Member (SBStJ or SSStJ) |
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Admission to the Order at any Grade is at the discretion of the Sovereign Head of the Order, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as Queen of Canada and is sanctioned by the Prior of the Order, the Governor General of Canada.
Currently, there are approximately 5,500 active Canadian members in the Order.
Honours and Awards Program
The overall administration of the honours and awards program is the responsibility of the National Honours and Awards Committee (NHAC). The NHAC receives nominations for admission or promotion to the Order from provincial/territorial councils and special centres such as the Department of National Defence and the RCMP.
Honours - Admission to the Order of St. John
Admission to the Order is based on the merit of the nominee’s past contribution to the Order, the quantity and quality of work, volunteer service and contribution of time, skills, and resources to the Order of St. John through its foundations, the St. John Eye Hospital or St. John Ambulance. Nominees must be a minimum of 18 years of age (with the exception of Esquire), a Canadian citizen or permanent resident for consideration for admission to the Order.
For More on St. John Ambulance Honours and Awards