The Order of Canada is the cornerstone of the Canadian Honours System. Presented by the governor general, it recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation.
The Order of Canada was created for the country's Centennial in 1967. The motto of the Order is "Desiderantes meliorem patriam" - "They desire a better country".
Appointments are made for sustained achievement at three levels: Companion (C.C.), Officer (O.C.) and Member (C.M.). There are currently (January 2023) 8,216 recipients in total. There is 1 Companion of the Order of Canada, 7 Officers, and 29 Members, listed below, with links to biographical information. Inductees are entitled to use the postnominal letters C.C., O.C., or C.M. - they may be used on all formal documents, correspondence, biographies and business cards.
