Sub-series consists of records relating to the Order of Canada. The Order of Canada, instituted on 1 July 1967, is designed to honour Canadians for outstanding achievement and service to their country or to humanity at large. Originally, the order included two levels of membership: Companions of the order and recipients of the Medal of Service; in 1972, the categories were revised and now consist of three levels of membership: companions, officers and members. The last category is intended especially to recognize service in a locality or in a particular field of activity. A maximum of 15 persons may be appointed companions in any one year but the total number of companions cannot exceed 150; officers of the order may be appointed to the number of 40 persons a year and up to 80 persons may be appointed yearly as members.
The Queen is sovereign of the order and the Governor General holds office as chancellor and chief companion. Appointments are made to the order, with the Queen's approval, by the Governor General assisted by an advisory council. While Canadians are the primary recipients of the order, the constitution provides that persons who are not Canadian citizens and whom Canada desires to honour may be appointed honorary members at any of the three levels.
The records in this sub-series consist of files on individuals who have been appointed to one of the three levels of the Order: Companions, 1955-1981, volumes 17 to 20; Officers, 1955-1981, volumes 20 to 25; Members, 1944-1981, volumes 25 to 27 and a final collection of files not divided by level, 1967-1983, volumes 30 to 36). Researchers should note that some files include original documents that pre-date the institution of the Order of Canada.
These records are available to researchers 20 years after the death of the recipient.
