Canadian honours come in three different categories: orders, decorations, and medals.

Orders

Orders recognize significant achievements and remarkable service. They include the Order of Merit; the Order of Canada; the Order of Military Merit; the Order of Merit of the Police Forces; the Royal Victorian Order; the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, and provincial orders.

Decorations

Decorations recognize various degrees of bravery, professionalism and exceptional devotion to duty. They are divided into three categories: Military Valour Decorations, Decorations for Bravery and Meritorious Service Decorations.

Medals

Medals recognize general service carried out with distinction by Canadians; to commemorate special occasions; to celebrate important anniversaries; or to recognize long-term exemplary service.

There are war and campaign medals, commemorative medals, long service medals, Exemplary Service Medals, and special service medals, to name a few.