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
Garneau Pierre 2014 Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
Gibbon Ted 2014 Courtenay, British Columbia
Gregory Stephen 2014 Montréal, Quebec
Gross Ronald 2014 Waterloo, Ontario
Gulkison Ross Martin 2014 North Vancouver, British Columbia
Hoppe Verda 2014 Nipawin, Saskatchewan
Houghton David 2014 Montréal, Quebec
Houle André 2014 Trois-Rivières, Quebec
Howard James 2014 Vancouver, British Columbia
Kieffer Clarence 2014 Walkerton, Ontario
Knight Wayne 2014 Okanagan Falls, British Columbia
Lafontaine Daniel 2014 Québec, Quebec
Lee Padre Arthur Donald 2014 Sooke, British Columbia
Lefort Daniel 2014 Sainte-Martine, Quebec
Letemplier Marie 2014 Sherbrooke, Quebec
Lightstone Mortimer 2014 North York , Ontario
Lyons Terence 2014 Regina, Saskatchewan
MacKinnon Margaret 2014 Cornwall, Prince Edward Island
MacMillan-Murphy James Patrick 2014 Victoria, British Columbia
Marinier Charles 2014 Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
Maxwell Scott 2014 Whitby, Ontario
McDonald Donald Richard 2014 Quadra Island, British Columbia
Metcalfe Keith Holland 2014 Torrance, Ontario
Milligan Chris 2014 Baie d’Urfé, Quebec
Minnis William 2014 Belfast, Prince Edward Island