National Order of Quebec
Ordre national du Québec
Flag of the order
Awarded by the lieutenant governor of Quebec-in-Council
TypeOrder of merit (provincial)
Established20 June 1984
MottoHonneur au peuple du Québec (French for 'Homage to the people of Quebec')
EligibilityResidents of Quebec nominated by the Council and non-Quebeckers nominated by the Premier of Quebec
StatusCurrently constituted
FounderGilles Lamontagne representing Elizabeth II
SovereignCharles III
GradesGrand Officer (grand officier/grande officière) (GOQ)
Officer (officier/officière) (OQ)
Knight (chevalier/chevalière) (CQ)
WebsiteOfficial website
Precedence
Next (higher)Venerable Order of Saint John
Next (lower)Saskatchewan Order of Merit

Ribbon bar of a Grand Officer

Ribbon bar of an Officer

Ribbon bar of a Knight

The National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is an order of merit in the Canadian province of Quebec. Instituted in 1984 when Lieutenant Governor Jean-Pierre Côté granted royal assent to the Loi sur l'Ordre national du Québec (National Order of Quebec Act),[1][2] the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to honour current or former Quebec residents for conspicuous achievements in any field,[2] being thus described as the highest honour in Quebec.[3] In 1986, the order was expanded to include honorary membership for people outside Quebec.[4]

Structure and appointment

Although the National Order of Quebec was established with the granting of royal assent by Quebec's lieutenant governor and the Canadian sovereign is the fount of honour,[5] the viceroy does not, as in other provinces, form an explicit part of the organization. Instead, the monarch's representative is related to the order only by virtue of his or her place in council, collectively termed the government of Quebec,[6] to which the constitution of the Order of Quebec makes specific reference.[1]

The order contains three grades, each with accordant post-nominal letters and place in the Canadian order of precedence for honours, decorations, and medals. They are, in descending hierarchical order:[lower-alpha 1][7]

  • Grand Officer (grand officier/grande officière; GOQ)
  • Officer (officier/officière; OQ)
  • Knight (chevalier/chevalière; CQ)

Nominations to the National Order of Quebec are sought in Quebec's daily and weekly media publications and are directed to the Council of the National Order of Quebec, elected by and amongst the members of the order for a period of three years and headed by a president elected by the council for two years.[lower-alpha 2][9] This body is mandated to short-list candidates and forward their suggestions to the Governor-in-Council.[2] Any person born, living, or who has lived in Quebec, save for anyone serving as a Member of the National Assembly of Quebec,[10] is eligible to be nominated and names may be submitted posthumously.[1] The Cabinet may also, without the input of the Council of the National Order of Quebec, put forward the names of non-Quebecers for appointment as honorary members.[11] Promotion through the grades is possible for both substantive and honorary members.[12] Admission recognizes conspicuous meritorious actions that improve or support Quebec and/or its language and culture.[13]

Insignia

Frederick Andermann wearing the insignia of an Officer in 2013

Upon admission into the Order of Quebec, members are presented with various insignia of the organization—a medallion, miniature, and button.[14] All are administered by the Regulations for the Insignia of the National Order of Quebec and were designed by Madeleine Dansereau, who was inspired by the heraldic elements of the provincial flag, notably the colours of blue and white used on the order's ribbon and the fleur-de-lis.[15] The badge of a Grand Officer consists of two 18kt gold plates, in the shape of a cross formed by two 60 millimetres (2.4 in) by 40 millimetres (1.6 in) arms, symmetrically superimposed atop one another 4 mm apart, the obverse face a high-polish, rusticated surface; at the lower left corner is a white enamel fleur-de-lis. On the reverse of the badge is inscribed the order's motto—Honneur au peuple du Québec (homage to the people of Quebec)—and a serial number at the base of the vertical bar. The badge for Officers is of a nearly identical design, but made of arms 50 millimetres (2.0 in) long by 25 millimetres (0.98 in) wide, the obverse plate in 18k gold with an applied gold fleur-de-lis, and the rear in sterling silver. Knights have a medal with a 40 millimetres (1.6 in) diameter, brushed silver medallion with a symmetrically placed, etched cross with arms 30 millimetres (1.2 in) long by 20 millimetres (0.79 in) wide and filled with a highly polished, rusticated surface; a gold fleur-de-lis is mounted at the lower, left side of the cross. Each member will also receive miniature versions of their insignia, identical in appearance save for size: those for all grades being 18 millimetres (0.71 in) wide in each direction or in circumference. A lapel pin is also used for wear on casual civilian clothing.[16] Male members wear their emblems suspended from a 38 millimetres (1.5 in) wide ribbon, at the collar for Grand Officers and Officers, and on a vertical ribbon on a medal bar on the left chest for Knights; women Grand Officers and Officers wear their insignia on a ribbon bow pinned at the left shoulder, and female Knights carry their medals in the same fashion as the men. The ribbon for miniatures is 18 millimetres (0.71 in) wide.[16]

The regulations of the National Order of Quebec stipulate that the premier presents new inductees with their insignia, either on the National Holiday of Quebec or another day during the National Week.[17] The ceremony takes place in the Salon Rouge of the parliament building in Quebec City, though exceptions are sometimes made when inductees cannot be present (notably for some non-Quebecer appointments).[2] The insignia remain property of the Crown in Right of Quebec and must be returned upon a holder's cessation of membership in the society,[18] whether by death or dismissal.[19]

Inductees

The following are some notable appointees into the National Order of Quebec:[20]

Quebec inductees

Grand Officer

Officer

Knight

Non-Quebec inductees

Honorary Grand Officer

Honorary Officer

Honorary Knight

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The grade titles in French are gendered; they are given here with the male versions first.
  2. ↑ As of November 2023, members of the Council of the National Order of Quebec are: Claudine Roy, President; Paul Grand'Maison, Vice-President; Françoise Bertrand; Neil Bissoondath; Jean-Claude Poitras; Liza Frulla; Jacques Girard; John R. Porter; and Jean-Louis Roy.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Elizabeth II (20 June 1984), Loi sur l'Ordre national du Québec, I.3 (in French), Ville de Québec: Éditeur officiel du Québec
  2. 1 2 3 4 Bingham, Russell, "Culture > Awards > National Order of Québec (L'ordre national du Québec)", in Marsh, James H. (ed.), The Canadian Encyclopedia, Toronto: Historica Foundation of Canada, retrieved 14 August 2009
  3. ↑ "Goals and objectives of the Ordre". National Order of Quebec, Government of Quebec. Retrieved 11 November 2023. It is the highest award Québec bestows.
  4. ↑ "Background - About the Order". National Order of Quebec, Government of Quebec. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  5. ↑ Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Honours and Recognition Programs > Canadian National Honours, Queen's Printer for Canada, archived from the original on 23 March 2009, retrieved 20 May 2009
  6. ↑ Victoria (1 July 1867), Constitution Act, 1867, 66, Westminster: Queen's Printer
  7. ↑ Elizabeth II 1984, I.2
  8. ↑ "Board members". National Order of Quebec, Government of Quebec. 2 October 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  9. ↑ Elizabeth II 1984, II 10-II.12
  10. ↑ Elizabeth II 1984, I.7
  11. ↑ Elizabeth II 1984, I.4
  12. ↑ Elizabeth II 1984, I.6
  13. ↑ Ministère du Conseil exécutif, Qu'est-ce que l'Ordre national? > Appel public de candidatures (in French), Éditeur officiel du Québec, retrieved 15 August 2009
  14. ↑ Elizabeth II (1985), Règlement sur les insignes de l'Ordre national du Québec, I.2 (in French), Ville de Québec: Éditeur officiel du Québec
  15. ↑ "Titles, insignia and symbols". National Order of Quebec, Government of Quebec. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  16. 1 2 Elizabeth II 1985, I.3-I.14
  17. ↑ Elizabeth II 1985, III.19-III.20
  18. ↑ Elizabeth II 1984, III.23
  19. ↑ Elizabeth II 1984, III.24
  20. ↑ "Members of the Ordre national du Québec". National Order of Quebec, Government of Quebec. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  21. ↑ "Prime Minister announces The Queen's approval of Canada's next Governor General". Canadian Government. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  22. ↑ "Mary Simon, Officière (1992)". National Order of Quebec. 27 September 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  23. ↑ "Samuel Pierre - Knight of the Ordre national du Québec - National Order of Quebec". Awards and Honors. 5 February 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  24. ↑ "Paul Zumthor – Ordre national du Québec".
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