The Medal of Service of the Order of Canada was a
decoration that was, within the
Canadian system of honours, created at the same time as the Companion level of the
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit.
To coincide with the cen ...
and the Medal of Courage of the
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit.
To coincide with the cen ...
. The federal cabinet had refused to allow for the establishment of a multi-levelled national order, and thus the Medal of Service was established as a second tier to the Companion level.
Design
The Medal of Service of the Order of Canada was designed by
Bruce W. Beatty, and is similar in shape to the other elements of the Order of Canada. A silver stylized snowflake measuring 34 mm across, the obverse depicting a single stylized maple leaf enclosed within a circle, surmounted by a Crown. The reverse bears a silver disc with the word SERVICE around the top.
This medallion is worn on the left chest, on a wide, red and white ribbon. The undress ribbon bore a single plain silver maple leaf in the centre. For men, the Medal of Service was hung from a bar, and for women, on a ribbon bow, both pinned to the left chest.
Conversion
The Medal of Service of the
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit.
To coincide with the cen ...
was converted into the Officer level of the Order of Canada in 1972 when the Order was reorganized into three levels; Companion, Officer and Member. All living holders of the Medal of Service were automatically converted into Officers of the Order of Canada and invited to exchange their Medal of Service insignia for that of Officer of the Order of Canada. Those who died prior to the promulgation of the new Letters Patent for the
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit.
To coincide with the cen ...
were not converted to being Officers of the Order of Canada.
An award permitted the recipients to use the
post-nominal letters ''SM''.
See also
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The Order of Canada
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...
*
Canadian order of precedence (decorations and medals)
The following is the Canadian order of precedence for decorations and medals. Where applicable, post-nominal letters are indicated.
Awards of valour
National orders
Provincial orders
Territorial orders
National decorations
National dec ...
References
Bibliography
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Further reading
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{{Canadian Honours System
Military awards and decorations of Canada
Civil awards and decorations of Canada