National Order of Quebec explained

National Order of Quebec
Awarded By:the lieutenant governor of Quebec-in-Council
Type:Order of merit (provincial)
Established:20 June 1984
Founder:Gilles Lamontagne
Eligibility:Residents of Quebec nominated by the Council and non-Quebeckers nominated by the Premier of Quebec
Status:Currently constituted
Grades:Grand Officer (grand officier/grande officière) (GOQ)
Officer (officier/officière) (OQ)
Knight (chevalier/chevalière) (CQ)
Higher:Venerable Order of Saint John
Lower:Saskatchewan Order of Merit
Image Size2:130px
Image3:Officer National Order of Québec Undressed Ribbon.png
Image Size3:130px
Caption3:Ribbon bar of an Officer
Image4:Knight National Order of Québec undressed ribbon.png
Image Size4:130px
Caption4:Ribbon bar of a Knight

The National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as , and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is an order of merit in Quebec. Instituted in 1984 when Lieutenant Governor Jean-Pierre Côté granted royal assent to the (National Order of Quebec Act), 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, being thus described as the highest honour in Quebec.[1] In 1986, the order was expanded to include honorary membership for people outside Quebec.[2]

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, 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, to which the constitution of the Order of Quebec makes specific reference.

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:

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. This body is mandated to short-list candidates and forward their suggestions to the Governor-in-Council. Any person born, living, or who has lived in Quebec, save for anyone serving as a Member of the National Assembly of Quebec, is eligible to be nominated and names may be submitted posthumously. 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. Promotion through the grades is possible for both substantive and honorary members. Admission recognizes conspicuous meritorious actions that improve or support Quebec and/or its language and culture.

Insignia

Upon admission into the Order of Quebec, members are presented with various insignia of the organization—a medallion, miniature, and button. 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.[3] The badge of a Grand Officer consists of two 18kt gold plates, in the shape of a cross formed by two 60mm by 40mm 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— (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 50mm long by 25mm 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 40mm diameter, brushed silver medallion with a symmetrically placed, etched cross with arms 30mm long by 20mm 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 18mm wide in each direction or in circumference. A lapel pin is also used for wear on casual civilian clothing. Male members wear their emblems suspended from a 38mm 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 18mm wide.

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. 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). 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, whether by death or dismissal.

Inductees

The following are some notable appointees into the National Order of Quebec:[4]

Quebec inductees

Grand Officer

Officer

Knight

Non-Quebec inductees

Honorary Grand Officer

Honorary Officer

Honorary Knight

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Goals and objectives of the Ordre . National Order of Quebec, Government of Quebec . 11 November 2023 . It is the highest award Québec bestows..
  2. Web site: Background - About the Order . National Order of Quebec, Government of Quebec . 11 November 2023.
  3. Web site: Titles, insignia and symbols . National Order of Quebec, Government of Quebec . 11 November 2023.
  4. Web site: Members of the Ordre national du Québec . National Order of Quebec, Government of Quebec . 11 November 2023.
  5. Web site: July 6, 2021. Prime Minister announces The Queen's approval of Canada's next Governor General. July 8, 2021. Canadian Government.
  6. Web site: September 27, 2011. Mary Simon, Officière (1992). July 8, 2021. National Order of Quebec.
  7. Web site: 2015-02-05 . Samuel Pierre - Knight of the Ordre national du Québec - National Order of Quebec . 2024-01-09 . Awards and Honors . en.
  8. Web site: Paul Zumthor – Ordre national du Québec .

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