Canadian honours order of wearing


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

Territorial orders

National decorations

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.
RibbonHonourPost-nominal letters
Recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain

National medals

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.
RibbonHonour
Recipient of the Memorial Cross

United Nations medals

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.
RibbonHonour
Recipient of the UN Good Offices Mission in Afghanistan & Pakistan

Commemorative medals

Other decorations and medals

  • Commonwealth orders
  • Commonwealth decorations
  • Commonwealth medals
  • Foreign orders
  • Foreign decorations
  • Foreign medals
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

War and operational service medals

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

Long service and good conduct medals

Exemplary service medals

Order of Precedence as set out above in current precedence

Special medal

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. 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.