Annex S – Commemorative medals
- From time to time, The Sovereign, on the advice of the GC, creates commemorative medals to commemorate important royal and national anniversaries such as coronations, jubilees and the anniversaries of Confederation. These medals provide an opportunity, on a happy occasion, to recognize a wider array of deserving Canadians from all fields, ages and regions for their achievements and contribution to Canadian national life. The Canadian Forces (CF) have traditionally been an important partner in these medals programs. While the military selection criteria has varied with the programs over time, it has recently been established that, in accordance with the national criteria for the medals, military recipients shall be selected on a merit basis, while ensuring an appropriate representation of the CF demography in all respects.
- When a new program is launched, the CF promulgates the details of the CF selection criteria and process.
- These commemorative medals programs are strictly limited in time and once the anniversary is over and the recipient list is closed by Rideau Hall, no more medals may be awarded.
- While Canadians were eligible and received numerous previous British Empire and Commonwealth commemorative medals from 1887 to 1953, the following modern Canadian commemorative medals were created on the advice of the GC:
- The Canadian Centennial Medal (1967).
- The Commemorative Medal for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee (1977).
- The Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada (1992).
- The Commemorative Medal for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee (2002).
- The Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012).
- Recipients who require a replacement for these medals should contact the Chancellery of Honours as per Chapter 5 (contact information in Chapter 1, paragraph 64).