Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers

Blazon

Suspended by a claw affixed to a ring from a ribbon Gules bearing a Canadian pale Or charged with four pallets Azure, a medal the obverse bearing a contemporary effigy of Her Majesty The Queen of Canada contourné, wearing a diadem of maple leaves and snowflakes, and environed by the inscriptions ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA and CANADA separated by two maple leaves, the reverse a plate rayonné charged with a heart erablé voided ensigned by a coronet erablé and interlaced in fess point with a heart voided, all Argent;

Symbolism

The obverse depicts a crowned image of the Sovereign, in whose name the medal is bestowed. The reverse indicates the ideas of caring and generosity, represented by the two hearts. The sunburst pattern of the rim symbolizes the time that volunteers are giving and their actions. Inspired by the Scottish Luckenbooth brooches traded in North America in the 17th century, this design is a modern version of a traditional emblem with roots in Canadian history. The ribbon uses the vice-regal colours of blue and gold, which are taken from the pin of the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award, which the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers has replaced. The five gold stripes evoke the fingers of a hand, present in the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award emblem. The deep red colour is associated with royalty.