Series consists records created and maintained by the State Ceremonial Branch. This series consists of six sub-series: the Honours and Awards sub-series; the Imperial Service Medal sub-series; the State Ceremonies sub-series; the Special Programmes sub-series; the Registry sub-series; and Canada Day drawings.
Canada. State Ceremonial : The State Ceremonial Branch of the Department of Secretary of State was created in 1981 to coordinate under the direction of the Assistant Under Secretary of State, Administration and Central Services, the many activities associated with the organization of public ceremonies of national significance, the celebration of national festivity, the promotion of national symbols, and the reception of foreign dignitaries, primarily the tasks undertaken by the former Secretariat and Protocol Branch c. 1968-1974, the State Protocol and Special Events Branch c. 1975- 1980, and the Festival Canada Office of the Under Secretary of State for Cultural Affairs. The purpose of this administrative consolidation was not only to place the formulation of certain aspects of diplomatic and state protocol, the responsibility for the presentation (and creation) of national ceremonial, and the celebration of national festivity within the jurisdictional confines of a single bureau, but to create a special ceremonial office for the Government of Canada. This office is now responsible for all ceremonial matters related to the Queen (crown) in Canada as well as her representatives, the Governor General and the lieutenant governors of the provinces; all ceremonial matters considered to be of national importance, including the installation of officials into office, receptions, funerals, and commemorations; the celebration of Canada Day and federal participation in provincial, territorial and other national anniversaries; and the promotion of national symbols such as flags, seals, armorial bearings and heraldic devices. ARCHIVAL APPRAISAL REPORT on Records of the State Ceremonial Branch Department of the Secretary of State
