National Order of Quebec

The National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec. Instituted in 1984 when Lieutenant Governor Jean-Pierre Côté granted Royal Assent to the Loi sur l'Ordre national du Québec (National Order of Quebec Act),[1][2] 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,[2] being thus described as the highest honour in Quebec.[3]

"OQ" redirects here. For other uses, see OQ (disambiguation).

Ordre national du Québec
National Order of Quebec
Awarded by the

Lieutenant Governor of Quebec
TypeProvincial order
MottoHonneur au peuple du Québec (English: Homage to the People of Quebec)
EligibilityResidents of Quebec nominated by the Council and non-Quebecers nominated by the Premier of Quebec
StatusCurrently constituted
GradesGrand Officer (grand officier) (GOQ)
Officer (officier) (OQ)
Knight (chevalier) (CQ)
Precedence
Next (higher)Venerable Order of Saint John
Next (lower)Saskatchewan Order of Merit

Ribbon of the National Order of Quebec

Structure and appointment

Though 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,[4] 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,[5] to which the constitution of the Order of Quebec makes specific reference.[1]

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 hierarchical order:[6]

  • Grand Officer (grand officier) (GOQ)
  • Officer (officier) (OQ)
  • Knight (chevalier) (CQ)

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.[n 1][8] This body is mandated to short-list candidates and forward their suggestions to the Governor-in-Council.[2] Any person born, living, or who has lived in Quebec, save for anyone serving as a Member of the National Assembly of Quebec,[9] is eligible to be nominated and names may be submitted posthumously.[1] 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.[10] Promotion through the grades is possible for both substantive and honorary members.[11] Admission recognizes conspicuous meritorious actions that improve or support Quebec and/or its language and culture.[12]

Insignia

Upon admission into the Order of Quebec, members are presented with various insignia of the organization—a medallion, miniature, and button.[13] All are administered by the Regulations for the Insignias 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.[14] The badge of a Grand Officer consists of two 18kt gold plates, in the shape of a cross formed by two 60 millimetres (2.4 in) by 40 millimetres (1.6 in) 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—Honneur au peuple du Québec (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 50 millimetres (2.0 in) long by 25 millimetres (0.98 in) 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 40 millimetres (1.6 in) diameter, brushed silver medallion with a symmetrically placed, etched cross with arms 30 millimetres (1.2 in) long by 20 millimetres (0.79 in) 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 18 millimetres (0.71 in) wide in each direction or in circumference. A lapel pin is also used for wear on casual civilian clothing.[15] Male members wear their emblems suspended from a 38 millimetres (1.5 in) 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 18 millimetres (0.71 in) wide.[15]

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.[16] 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).[2] 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,[17] whether by death or dismissal.[18]

Inductees

The following are some notable appointees into the National Order of Quebec:[19]

Grand Officer

Officer

Knight

Honorary Grand Officer

Honorary Officer

Honorary Knight

See also

Notes
  1. The current members of the Council of the National Order of Quebec are: Maryse Lassonde, President; Bernard Voyer, Vice-President; Marie-Andrée Bertrand; Claude Castonguay; Solange Fernet-Gervais; Bernard Lamarre; Denise Ouellet-Grenier; Marc-Adélard Tremblay; and Monique Vézina.[7]

References
  1. Elizabeth II (20 June 1984), Loi sur l'Ordre national du Québec, I.3 (in French), Ville de Québec: Éditeur officiel du Québec
  2. Bingham, Russell, "Culture > Awards > National Order of Québec (L'ordre national du Québec)", in Marsh, James H. (ed.), The Canadian Encyclopedia, Toronto: Historica Foundation of Canada, retrieved 14 August 2009
  3. "Objet et buts de l'Ordre". Ordre national du Québec (in French). Gouvernement du Québec. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012. Il est la plus élevée des distinctions québécoises.
  4. Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Honours and Recognition Programs > Canadian National Honours, Queen's Printer for Canada, archived from the original on 23 March 2009, retrieved 20 May 2009
  5. Victoria (1 July 1867), Constitution Act, 1867, 66, Westminster: Queen's Printer
  6. Elizabeth II 1984, I.2
  7. Ministère du Conseil exécutif, Qu'est-ce que l'Ordre national? > Le Conseil de l'Ordre national du Québec (in French), retrieved 15 August 2009
  8. Elizabeth II 1984, II 10-II.12
  9. Elizabeth II 1984, I.7
  10. Elizabeth II 1984, I.4
  11. Elizabeth II 1984, I.6
  12. Ministère du Conseil exécutif, Qu'est-ce que l'Ordre national? > Appel public de candidatures (in French), Éditeur officiel du Québec, retrieved 15 August 2009
  13. Elizabeth II (1985), Règlement sur les insignes de l'Ordre national du Québec, I.2 (in French), Ville de Québec: Éditeur officiel du Québec
  14. Ministère du Conseil exécutif, Qu'est-ce que l'Ordre national? > Les insignes de l'Ordre national du Québec (in French), Éditeur officiel du Québec, retrieved 15 August 2009
  15. Elizabeth II 1985, I.3-I.14
  16. Elizabeth II 1985, III.19-III.20
  17. Elizabeth II 1984, III.23
  18. Elizabeth II 1984, III.24
  19. Recipients of the National Order of Quebec
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