Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers

Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers
Awarded by the monarch of Canada
Type	Medal
Status	Currently awarded
Statistics
Established	Governor General's Caring Canadian Award: November 1995 Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers: 15 July 2015
First awarded	Governor General's Caring Canadian Award: 1995
Precedence
Next (higher)	Polar Medal
Next (lower)	Canadian Centennial Medal
Ribbon of the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers

The Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers (French: Médaille du souverain pour les bénévoles) is a Canadian decoration intended to honour volunteers who have made a significant and continual contribution to their community, either in Canada or abroad. The medal was initially conceived by Governor General Roméo LeBlanc as the Governor General's Caring Canadian Award and created in November 1995, to award volunteers. It was replaced on 15 July 2015 by the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers.

Eligibility

The medal is intended for an individual whose unpaid, voluntary contributions, behind-the-scenes, provide extraordinary help or care to individuals or groups in the community. Nominees must be living Canadian citizens or permanent residents, but may belong to any age group; recipients typically have not previously been recognized by a national or provincial honour. Small groups may also be nominated; all members may receive the medal if they have contributed equally.

Selection

An independent Advisory Committee made up of Canadians from across the country meets to review submissions, and recipients are announced periodically.

Once a nomination for a candidate is received, research is undertaken to confirm facts and a summary of information about each candidate is presented to the Advisory Committee for review. The Committee submits recommendations to the Governor General.

Presentations

The certificate and lapel pin are presented to recipients by a dignitary, such as Lieutenant-Governor or a territorial commissioner or a mayor. On occasion, the Governor General presents awards during regional visits.

To date the Governor General has honoured over 1,500 Canadians across the country. Most of these individuals have devoted years to volunteer activities within their community.

Nominations

Nominations are always accepted; there are no deadlines.

See also

• List of awards presented by the Governor General of Canada