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
Worthington Peter 2004 Toronto, Ontario
Wright Frank David 2004 Vernon, British Columbia
Bordeleau Clovis Ira 2003 Ottawa, Ontario
Brown Dave 2003 Ottawa, Ontario
Clark Samuel Ervin 2003 Woodstock, New Brunswick
Courtenay Vincent R. 2003 Windsor, Ontario
Cousineau Jean-Louis 2003 Ste. Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec
Cyr Jean Roger Napoleon 2003 Ottawa, Ontario
Doal Donald R.S. 2003 Airdrie, Alberta
Duncan Ernest F. 2003 Hanover, Ontario
Gardam John 2003 Nepean , Ontario
Grewal Gurdev Singh 2003 Surrey, British Columbia
Groom Harry (E.C.) 2003 Victoria, British Columbia
Haywood Joseph Henry 2003 Winnipeg, Manitoba
Hees George 2003 Burlington, Ontario
Hunter Terrence W. James 2003 Oromocto, New Brunswick
Kobolak Joseph 2003 Welland, Ontario
Konn Armin 2003 Scarborough, Ontario
Lamore Roy 2003 Thunder Bay, Ontario
Lang Louis 2003 Ste. Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec
Lee Howe Y. 2003 Burnaby, British Columbia
Linden Robert 2003 Ottawa, Ontario
Mah Roy 2003 Vancouver, British Columbia
Mayne William 2003 Thornhill, Ontario
Mercer Percy G. 2003 Bromley, Kent, International