Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation

Canadians from every walk of life provide outstanding volunteer service to Veterans, their communities and their country. In April 2001, the Governor General authorized the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation to formally recognize these Canadians’ contributions.

The Governor General Warrant states the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation be "...awarded to individuals who have performed commendable service to the Veteran community and/or individuals who represent commendable role models for their fellow Veterans."

The Commendation is awarded annually to deserving recipients.

Insignia and Wear

The Commendation consists of a certificate, a lapel pin for civilian wear and a bar for wear with decorations. The design is a gold maple leaf resting on a red poppy—a flower long associated with the sacrifices of war—and the Royal Crown on the top of the pin.

A recipient may wear the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation bar on their blazer, formal wear, etc., on occasions appropriate for wearing medals. A recipient should wear the bar below their official decorations.

A recipient may wear the Commendation lapel pin on civilian dress at any time.

Eligibility

Type of service to Veterans

We recognize the diverse scope and range of work performed in contribution to the care and well-being of Veterans, or to the remembrance of the contributions, sacrifices and achievements of Veterans.

Nominees

Eligible recipients must be:

  • an individual, not a group or couple, of any age;
  • a volunteer who made significant, sustained and unpaid contributions to their Veteran community; and
  • a Canadian citizen or permanent Canadian resident when nominated.

Posthumous award

The Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation recognizes the efforts of living individuals. In the unfortunate circumstance a nominee is approved to receive this award, but passes away before the award has been presented, they may receive the award posthumously.

Frequency

Individuals may only receive the Minister’s Commendation once.

You may nominate an individual for the Commendation once in a given year. If a nomination is not successful, you may resubmit it for consideration in a subsequent year.

Recipients

 
Last Name First Name Year Location
Shaw Cecil 2012 Simonds, New Brunswick
Slark Patricia 2012 Burnaby, British Columbia
Smith Hedley 2012 Corner Brook, Newfoundland & Labrador
Soucy Roger 2012 Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec
Stanton James 2012 Labrador City, Newfoundland & Labrador
Stevenson Gardener 2012 Madoc, Ontario
Stewart Donald 2012 Edmonton, Alberta
Sweeney Joseph 2012 Toronto, Ontario
Symonds Allan 2012 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Toews William 2012 Calgary, Alberta
Tweten Reg 2012 Regina, Saskatchewan
VanGunst Sietze 2012 Red Deer, Alberta
Villemure Georges 2012 Shawinigan-Sud, Quebec
Webber Ronald 2012 Courtenay, British Columbia
Westmorland Muriel 2012 Hamilton, Ontario
Wright Heather 2012 Rothesay, New Brunswick