National Order of Quebec

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]

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]

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

• Canadian order of precedence (decorations and medals)
• Symbols of Quebec
• State decoration
• Prix du Québec

• Official website of the National Order of Quebec (in French)