The Canadian Decorations Advisory Committee reviews nominations and recommends appointments to the Governor General. The Advisory Committee is made up of representatives of the Clerk of the Privy Council, the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General, the Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Deputy Ministers of the Department of National Defence and Transport Canada, as well as up to four others appointed by the Governor General.

Program Management & Process

8 to 9 months:

Program Admissibility

• Nominations are received at the Chancellery of Honours (within two years of the event or end of trial)
• Review of nominations that meet the program criteria
• Police investigation report is submitted

Every 3 months:

Review of nominations by the committee

• Bravery Committee members meet four to five times throughout the year to review cases
• The Committee may:
  • request further research on a file;
  • recommend the award of a certificate of commendation for assistance in an act of bravery;
  • recommend to the Governor General the award of a Bravery Decoration; or
  • decide that the case does not warrant the award of a Bravery Decoration – case is closed.

4 to 6 weeks after the committee meeting:

Recipient notification

• Recipients are informed by phone
• An invitation to attend an award ceremony is issued eight weeks prior to the event

A few days prior to the ceremony:

Public announcement of the recipients

• A press release containing the recipients’ names and citations is issued
• The names of the recipients are then published in the Canada Gazette

2 to 3 times per year:

Award presentation ceremony

• A press release is issued to announce the award ceremony and the recipients being recognized
• Two to three Bravery award ceremonies are held each year (90 - 110 recipients per year)