Order of Canada nominations move into the digital age

The prestige and pomp of the Order of Canada is getting a little extra funding in order to bring it into the internet age.

Rideau Hall is getting an additional $2.8 million a year, as outlined in the federal budget to update Canada’s official honour system and bring the awards “closer to all Canadians.”

Part of the $2.8 million will also go to create new as-yet-unnamed awards, also aimed at reaching these people who seem to be left out of Canada’s system for bestowing official honour.

The Governor General, who administers Canada’s honour system, said official honours mean even more in the Kardashian-era.

"It may be especially important in an age of instant recognition and communication for Canadians to understand those people who over a period of time have made remarkable contributions to the leadership of our country," Gov. Gen. David Johnston told the Canadian Press.

Money will also go to create an online nomination system, which should make it easier for people to participate. But it’s not just the technical system that needs updating, according to the government.

It’s the whole nomination process.

The budget called out the need for the Order of Canada to increase the number of nominations from “under-represented sectors.”

Ontario, and Toronto specifically, dominate the list of nominations. Almost a quarter of appointees between 2010-2014 came from the fields of social services and health, according to data provided by Rideau Hall. Conversely, only 2 per cent came from environment or design. And during that same time frame, only 27 per cent of nominations were for women.

“There has always been a desire to increase Order of Canada nominations from certain regions of the country, underrepresented sectors of activity and a more equal gender representation,” said Rideau Hall spokesperson Marie-Pierre Bélanger.

Some of the money will go to recruitment efforts, as well as towards the cost of appointing more members. But the eligibility and the merit criteria for the award won’t change, Bélanger said.

The second-highest honour in the land

The Order of Canada, created in 1967, recognizes “outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation.”

It is the second-highest honour in the country, behind the Order of Merit. But unlike the Order of Merit, which can only be given by the Queen and is disturbed amongst the Commonwealth, the Order of Canada is specific to Canada and is given by the Queen’s emissary, the Governor General.

There are three grades in the Order of Canada: Members, Officers and Companions. There are quotas for how many Members and Officers can be appointed every year, but there can only be a maximum of 165 Companions at any one time. A Companion must die or resign the order in order for there to be a vacancy.

Recipients can have their honour upgraded if their high standing and achievements continue.

There are also extraordinary and honourary recipients, who are not included in the quotas.

Who makes the cut?

Anyone who is a Canadian citizen can be nominated (but you can’t nominate yourself). Nominations must include three references to vouch for the person’s achievement and character.

Judges and politicians who are currently in office cannot be nominated, nor can dead people.

An Advisory Council made of some of Canada’s elite investigate the nominations, and ultimately select the winners.

What you get

There’s no prize money — recipients are bestowed with a medal, which is made in the image of a six-point snowflake inscribed with the Latin motto Desiderantes Meliorem Patiram (They desire a better country).

The government does pay for each recipient and one guest to attend the ceremony at Rideau Hall. If someone can’t make it because they are too ill, the Governor General will visit them in person to present them with the award.

Recipients are also allowed to use special post-nominal letters in their signature to identify themselves as members of the Order of Canada.

Thanks, but no thanks

People can reject the appointment to the Order of Canada, although it’s rare.

Some Quebec separatists, such as Luc Andre Godbout, have rejected it because they reject the Queen’s authority.

Others are simply too shy.

Canadian literature champion Robert Weaver rejected the Order several times, before finally accepting its honour in 2000.

"He (Weaver) was just a very modest man who really loved good writing, all sorts of writing, and all sorts of different sorts of writers, poets as much as short-story writers, " Weaver’s son told the Star in 2008.

Take it back

Although the award is usually for life, people can lose their medal.

In 2014, Conrad Black became one of six ignominious Canadians to be stripped of their Order of Canada. Anyone can request that someone’s medal be taken away, but it’s up to the Advisory Council to determine if the person is indeed unworthy.

Those under scrutiny are allowed to present evidence on their behalf in writing, in 2012, Black went to court to fight to be heard in person by the Council.

He lost that fight, and lost the honour, being deemed not worthy of the Order of Canada.

With files from Stephanie Levitz of The Canadian Press and Star staff.