Regulations

INTERPRETATION

1. The definitions in this section apply in these Regulations.

"Canadian bravery decoration" means the Cross of Valour, the Star of Courage or the Medal of Bravery. (décoration canadienne pour acte de bravoure)

"Committee" means the Canadian Decorations Advisory Committee maintained under subsection 7(1). (Conseil)

APPLICATION

2. These Regulations apply in respect of the Canadian bravery decorations.

CROSS OF VALOUR

3. (1) The Cross of Valour shall be awarded for acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril.

(2) The Cross of Valour shall consist of a gold cross of four equal limbs, as follows:

(a) the obverse shall be enamelled red and edged in gold with, superimposed in the centre, a gold maple leaf surrounded by a gold wreath of laurel; and

(b) on the reverse, the Royal Cypher and the words VALOUR / VAILLANCE shall appear.

STAR OF COURAGE

4. (1) The Star of Courage shall be awarded for acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril.

(2) The Star of Courage shall consist of a silver star of four points with a maple leaf in each of the four angles, as follows:

(a) on the obverse, superimposed in the centre, there shall be a gold maple leaf surrounded by a gold wreath of laurel; and

(b) on the reverse, the Royal Cypher and the word COURAGE shall appear.

MEDAL OF BRAVERY

5. (1) The Medal of Bravery shall be awarded for acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances.

(2) The Medal of Bravery shall consist of a circular silver medal, as follows:

(a) on the obverse, there shall be a maple leaf surrounded by a wreath of laurel; and

(b) on the reverse, the Royal Cypher and the words BRAVERY / BRAVOURE shall appear.

ELIGIBILITY

6. A person is eligible to be awarded a Canadian bravery decoration if that person is

(a) a Canadian citizen; or

(b) not a Canadian citizen but

  1. has performed in Canada an act for which a bravery decoration may be awarded under these Regulations, or

  2. has performed outside Canada an act for which a bravery decoration may be awarded under these Regulations and which merits recognition by Canada as being an act performed in the interest of Canada.

CANADIAN DECORATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

7. (1) There shall be maintained a Canadian Decorations Advisory Committee comprising

(a) the Deputy Secretary to the Governor General, Chancellery of Honours, who shall be the Chairperson of the Committee;

(b) the Clerk of the Privy Council;

(c) the Deputy Minister of National Defence;

(d) the Deputy Minister of Transport;

(e) the Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police; and

(f) not more than four additional members to be appointed as members of the Committee by the Governor General.

(2) A member of the Committee referred to in subsection (1) may designate an alternate to act as a member of the Committee in the event that the member is absent or unable to act in that capacity.

8. The Committee shall

(a) consider nominations under section 9 for the award of a Canadian bravery decoration;

(b) determine whether nominees are eligible to be awarded a Canadian bravery decoration;

(c) compile and submit to the Governor General lists of those nominees who, in the opinion of the Committee, meet the criteria for the award of a Canadian bravery decoration; and

(d) advise the Governor General on such other matters concerning the award of Canadian bravery decorations as the Governor General may refer to the Committee for consideration.

NOMINATIONS

9. (1) Any person or organization may submit to the Director of Honours, Chancellery of Honours, for consideration by the Committee a nomination of a person for the award of a Canadian bravery decoration.

(2) Nominations must be submitted within two years after the day on which

(a) the incident or act of bravery occurred; or

(b) a public entity, including a court, a quasi-judicial tribunal or a coroner, has concluded its review concerning the circumstances surrounding the incident or act of bravery.

AWARD OF DECORATIONS

10. (1) Awards of Canadian bravery decorations shall be made by instrument signed by the Governor General.

(2) A Canadian bravery decoration may be awarded posthumously.

PRESENTATION

11. Canadian bravery decorations shall be presented by the Governor General at a formal investiture.

12. Notwithstanding section 11, the Governor General may designate an appropriate person to present Canadian bravery decorations.

POST-NOMINAL LETTERS

13. A recipient of a Canadian bravery decoration is entitled to use the following post-nominal letters on all occasions when the use of such letters is customary:

(a) where the recipient has been awarded the Cross of Valour, the letters "C.V.";

(b) where the recipient has been awarded the Star of Courage, the letters "S.C."; and

(c) where the recipient has been awarded the Medal of Bravery, the letters "M.B.".

WEARING OF DECORATIONS

14. (1) The Cross of Valour shall be worn in the sequence prescribed in the Canadian Orders, Decorations and Medals Directive and in the following manner:

(a) by men, suspended from a red ribbon around the neck; and

(b) by women, below the left shoulder suspended from a red ribbon fashioned into a bow.

(2) The Star of Courage shall be worn in the sequence prescribed in the Canadian Orders, Decorations and Medals Directive and in the following manner:

(a) by men, on the left breast, suspended from a ribbon of red with two blue stripes; and

(b) by women, below the left shoulder, suspended from a ribbon of red with two blue stripes that is fashioned into a bow.

(3) The Medal of Bravery shall be worn in the sequence prescribed in the Canadian Orders, Decorations and Medals Directive and in the following manner:

(a) by men, on the left breast, suspended from a ribbon of red with three blue stripes; and

(b) by women, below the left shoulder, suspended from a ribbon of red with three blue stripes that is fashioned into a bow.

15. A person to whom a Canadian bravery decoration has been awarded may wear a miniature of the decoration, to be one-half the size of the decoration, on all occasions when the wearing of miniature decorations is customary.

CANCELLATION AND REINSTATEMENT

16. (1) The Governor General may cancel the award of any Canadian bravery decoration or restore any Canadian bravery decoration for which the award was cancelled.

(2) Where the award of a Canadian bravery decoration is cancelled, the name of the person to whom the decoration was awarded shall be deleted from the register referred to in paragraph 17(f).

ADMINISTRATION

17. The Director of Honours, Chancellery of Honours, shall

(a) verify the circumstances prompting a nomination for the award of a Canadian bravery decoration and present the nomination to the Committee;

(b) prepare the instruments of award for signature by the Governor General;

(c) prepare citations for the recipients;

(d) arrange for the names of persons receiving a Canadian bravery decoration to be published in the Canada Gazette;

(e) acquire the insignia and have the names of the persons honoured engraved on them;

(f) maintain a register containing the name of each person honoured and such other records relating to awards of the Canadian bravery decorations as are considered necessary;

(g) prepare certificates of award for presentation to the recipients;

(h) arrange for presentation ceremonies; and

(i) perform such other functions in respect of awards of the Canadian bravery decorations as the Governor General may require.

GENERAL

18. Nothing in these Regulations limits the right of the Governor General to exercise all powers and authorities of Her Majesty in respect of the Canadian bravery decorations.

19. The Governor General may make ordinances respecting the Canadian bravery decorations.