Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers

Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers
Awarded by the monarch of Canada
Type	Medal
Status	Currently awarded
Statistics
Established	Governor General's Caring Canadian Award: November 1995 Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers: 15 July 2015
First awarded	Governor General's Caring Canadian Award: 1995
Precedence
Next (higher)	Polar Medal^[1]
Next (lower)	Canadian Centennial Medal
Ribbon of the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers

The Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers (French: Médaille du souverain pour les bénévoles) is a Canadian decoration intended to honour volunteers who have made a significant and continual contribution to their community, either in Canada or abroad. The medal was initially conceived by Governor General Roméo LeBlanc as the Governor General's Caring Canadian Award and created in November 1995, to award volunteers. It was replaced on 15 July 2015 by the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers.

Eligibility

The medal is intended for an individual whose unpaid, voluntary contributions, behind-the-scenes, provide extraordinary help or care to individuals or groups in the community.^[2] Nominees must be living Canadian citizens or permanent residents, but may belong to any age group; recipients typically have not previously been recognized by a national or provincial honour. Small groups may also be nominated; all members may receive the medal if they have contributed equally.

Selection

An independent Advisory Committee made up of Canadians from across the country meets to review submissions, and recipients are announced periodically.

Once a nomination for a candidate is received, research is undertaken to confirm facts and a summary of information about each candidate is presented to the Advisory Committee for review. The Committee submits recommendations to the Governor General.

Presentations

The certificate and lapel pin are presented to recipients by a dignitary, such as Lieutenant-Governor or a territorial commissioner or a mayor. On occasion, the Governor General presents awards during regional visits.

To date the Governor General has honoured over 1,500 Canadians across the country. Most of these individuals have devoted years to volunteer activities within their community.

Nominations

Nominations are always accepted; there are no deadlines.

References

↑ Office of the Governor General of Canada. "Order of Precedence". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
↑ The Caring Canadian Award

Orders, decorations, and medals of Canada

Awards of valour	Victoria Cross Cross of Valour

National orders	Order of Canada Order of Military Merit Order of Merit of the Police Forces

Dynastic orders	Order of Merit Royal Victorian Order Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem

Provincial orders	Alberta Order of Excellence Order of British Columbia Order of Manitoba Order of New Brunswick Order of Newfoundland and Labrador Order of Nova Scotia Order of Nunavut Order of Ontario Order of Prince Edward Island National Order of Quebec Saskatchewan Order of Merit Yukon Territory Order of Polaris

Other decorations and medals	Royal Victorian Chain Decorations War and operational service medals Special service medals United Nations medals NATO medals International mission medals Commemorative medals Long service and good conduct medals Exemplary service medals Special Medals

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