Chapter 3 – Investitures
Table of contents
- This chapter deals with investitures for individual national orders and decorations.
- Presentation ceremonies for campaign and service medals and the Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD) are discussed in Chapter 4.
Recipients
- Recipients of individual honours and awards are entitled to all public recognition from the moment the GG signs the instrument of award, including the wear of undress ribbons or devices, miniatures and lapel badges (in civilian attire) and the use of authorized post-nominal letters where appropriate.
Ceremony
- All honours from the Crown must be presented with dignity and respect.
- Investitures for Canadian orders and decorations for military valour, bravery and meritorious service will normally be conducted under the auspices of the GG at Rideau Hall, Ottawa, or La Citadelle, Quebec City.
Primary guest for investitures
- Orders and decorations recipients are reimbursed for their own travel expenses as well as one primary guest in accordance with CBI 209.9913. The primary guest is the spouse/ partner or the primary next of kin when a spouse/ partner is not available. No travel cost is covered if living in the city where the investiture is being held.
- In addition to the primary guest, the recipient may bring one other guest at their own expense.
Investitures at Rideau Hall or La Citadelle, Québec City
- Initial notification of appointments to the ORMM and the award of Military Valour Decorations (MVDs), Bravery Decorations and Meritorious Service Decorations (MSDs) will be made through the recipient’s chain of command via a disposition memorandum provided by DH&R. This will provide a deadline for the chain of command to notify the member after which DH&R will publish a CANFORGEN announcing the appointments.
- Several months later, notification of investitures for the ORMM, MVDs and MSDs will be made by DH&R by email. DH&R will forward travel and financial directives to recipients once confirmation of their participation has been received, approximately one month before the event. The events team at Rideau Hall will also be in contact with the recipients requesting additional details and then provide official invitations to all guests.
- Notification of investitures for Bravery Decorations will be made by the events team at Rideau Hall who will be in contact with the recipients requesting additional details, making accommodation and travel arrangements and process travel expenses for the recipient and primary guest.
- In cases where the recipient of a Bravery Decoration is invited to attend an investiture linked to a MVD or MSD presentation, refer to para 9 above.
- Canadian Forces (CF) leadership representation at these events will be limited to the CDS and the Canadian Armed Forces Chief Warrant Officer (CAFCWO). Additional invitations are at the discretion of Rideau Hall based on space constraints and cannot be expected as a rule.
- The order of dress for investitures is Ceremonial 1A (tunic – decorations), refer to Dress Manual A-DH-265-000/AG-001.