Meritorious Service Decorations (Civil Division)

On June 23rd, the Governor General presented Meritious Service Decorations (Civil Division) to 52 recipients from various sectors across the country. As seen on the register, the Meritorious Service Cross is a silver Greek cross, ends splayed and convexed, bearing the Royal Crown: on one side appears a maple leaf within a circle and a laurel wreath between the arms, and on the other appears the Royal Cypher, and within a double circle the inscription MERITORIOUS SERVICE MÉRITOIRE.

The Meritorious Service Medal is a circular silver medal bearing the Royal Crown: on one side of which appears the design of the Cross, and on the other appears the Royal Cypher, and within a double circle the inscription MERITORIOUS SERVICE MÉRITOIRE.

''You inspire us to find our passions, to show compassion, to make this a smarter, more caring world,'' said His Excellency. ''Too often, we forget the essential goodness of people, how people care for and help each other every day through countless acts of kindness.''

Chief Superintendent Craig J. Callens, O.O.M, M.S.C. (Vancouver, British-Columbia), is part of the RCMP team who, within hours of learning of journalist Melissa Fung’s kidnapping in Afghanistan, assembled this multidisciplinary team of volunteers to investigate and secure her release. Despite the hostile environment, this team overcame many political and cultural obstacles, and established critical alliances with military and government organizations. They cultivated vital intelligence, processed critical leads and gathered quality evidence, which eventually pressured kidnappers into releasing Ms. Fung 28 days later.

Social entrepreneur Janet Longmore, M.S.C. (Chelsea, Quebec), is the founder, president and CEO of Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT), an organization dedicated to providing youth-led educational and leadership programs in the developing world. As much as DOT is recognized as a model of international social enterprise, Ms. Longmore also sets a shining example of Canadian social leadership for women around the world.

At the age of eight, Hannah Taylor, M.S.C. (Winnipeg, Ontario), created The Ladybug Foundation to encourage others to treat homeless people with dignity and to raise funds for groups providing food and shelter to the needy. Through her “Big Boss” lunches, where she addresses members of the business community, and through educational curriculum-based programs for teachers, she continues to inspire Canadians of all ages to get involved and make a difference.

In 2008, Tammy Aristilde, M.S.M. (Kingston, Ontario), founded Helping Haiti, an organization dedicated to supporting development projects in Cité Soleil, Port-au-Prince’s poorest and most dangerous neighbourhood. Through her tireless efforts, the volunteer-run group dedicates 100 per cent of donations to funding such programs as the construction of a water tower and a medical clinic, first aid training for young men in gangs, and self-defence training for young women.

Alexandre Bilodeau, M.S.M. (Montréal, Quebec), is an accomplished freestyle skier with 19 World Cup medals and the first Olympic gold medal won by a Canadian on Canadian soil. He is also a national spokesperson for youth with disabilities who contributes time and money to the Canadian Association of Paediatric Health Centres. In 2012, he and his brother served as Canada’s ambassadors for World Cerebral Palsy Day.

Esther Bryan, M.S.M. (Williamstown, Ontario), has been the driving force behind the Quilt of Belonging, a work of art consisting of 263 unique, 11-inch fabric squares that represent the Indigenous peoples and immigrant cultures woven into Canada’s heritage. Handcrafted by hundreds of volunteers, the Quilt has travelled from coast to coast to coast, delivering its message of diversity and belonging.

Committed to standardizing and improving oncology care, Ivan de Souza, M.S.M. (Etobicoke, Ontario), was instrumental in the creation of the de Souza Institute, which provides professional development and career counselling to Ontario nurses treating cancer patients. Since the Institute opened its doors in 2008, there has been such a phenomenal increase in the number of nurses certified as specialized in oncology in Ontario that other provinces have started sending nurses there for training.

A champion of diversity and inclusivity in the workplace, Zabeen Hirji, M.S.M. (Toronto, Ontario), was the lead strategist in developing a business case for inclusive hiring at the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). Over the course of 10 years, this program doubled the representation of visible minorities and women in executive roles at RBC. Ms. Hirji now devotes her time to educating other organizations on how to achieve diversity in their boardrooms.

Skiing together since childhood, brothers Brian and Robin McKeever, M.S.M. (Canmore, Alberta), achieved a hard-won synchronicity—Brian as a visually impaired Nordic skier and Robin as his sighted guide—which brought them triple gold medals at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games. Together, they pushed the boundaries of both the Paralympic and Olympic games and altered the lines which had segregated able-bodied and disabled athletes.

An Elder from the Shawanaga First Nation, Vincent Charles Pawis, O.Ont., M.S.M. (Nobel, Ontario), established the White Buffalo Road Healing Lodge where at-risk Aboriginal youth engage in counselling sessions, workshops, healing circles and sweat lodge ceremonies. This Indigenous-led, non-profit organization instills pride and self-confidence in the community and promotes positive lifestyle changes through connection with cultural heritage.

An advocate of Francophone culture and history, Félix Saint-Denis, M.S.M. (Ottawa, Ontario), is the creator and artistic director of L’Echo d’un peuple. This unique stage show depicted 400 years of Francophone history in Canada and involved more than 1 500 volunteers. Mini-productions are still presented in Francophone schools and communities throughout Ontario, preserving this important part of Canadian heritage.

Mike Stevens, M.S.M. (Sarnia, Ontario) is an internationally renowned harmonica player. He founded ArtsCan Circle on the premise that self-expression builds self-esteem. Through this innovative program, volunteer musicians and artists travel to isolated Indigenous communities in northern Ontario and Labrador to deliver musical instruments and to engage children and youth in workshops on the arts, fostering self-expression and strengthening their connection with the larger community.

The Meritorious Service Decorations are separated into military and civil divisions, with two levels each: a cross and a medal. Created in 1991, the Civil Division recognizes individuals who have performed an exceptional deed or activity that brought honour to their community or to Canada.