The Role of the Aide-de-Camp
Contemporary Role and Responsibilities
Aide-de-Camps (AdeCs) are appointed by the Governor General of Canada and the Lieutenant Governors of the provinces to assist them in carrying out their official duties. In Ontario, AdeCs serve the Lieutenant Governor and, in doing so, represent the province’s highest office. As such, their uniform, appearance, and conduct reflect this role and are held to the highest standard.
One of the key responsibilities of the AdeC is to help ensure the Lieutenant Governor is well briefed on the details of each activity, whether at Queen’s Park or elsewhere. AdeCs play an important role in ensuring that events are carried out with appropriate protocol and decorum, helping to avoid any discomfort or missteps. They also accompany the Lieutenant Governor in public settings, ensuring they are supported.
Today’s AdeC contributes not only to the success of each visit, but also to the broader work and public image of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. Their role is a meaningful part of how the office engages with the people of Ontario.
A Brief History
AdeCs began to appear in armies during the Napoleonic period, before the advent of modern communication technologies. They carried orders, both written and verbal, through the worst battlefield conditions. AdeCs needed to be instantly recognizable in wartime and so they wore bright, often gold embroidered uniforms replete with gold aiguillettes. An Aide-de-Camp was more than a mere orderly or dispatch rider. Often serving senior generals, the AdeC was responsible for ensuring their commander’s intent and tactics were accurately transmitted with complete understanding to their senior officers. This task alone required superior military training and acumen – AdeCs were often generals themselves (junior in rank to their commander). They also responded to the commander’s other needs including safety, transportation of his person and field accoutrements, and personal support matters.
Honorary Aides de Camp – Appointments and Resignations
All AdeCs are honorary appointments. The Lieutenant Governor may designate one AdeC to serve as the Chief Aide de Camp and one or more AdeCs to be a Deputy Chief Aide(s) de Camp. For working Aides de Camp, the prefix “Honorary” is dropped so that there is a distinction between those Honorary AdeCs with the Lieutenant Governor who are appointed strictly due to their institutional appointments, including the Commissioner of the OPP, Commander of 4th Canadian Division, Commanding Officer RCMP O Division, Ontario Fire Marshal, Chief of Toronto Police Service, Chief of Toronto Fire Services, and the Commanding Officer of the Queen’s York Rangers. Commissioned officers are appointed as AdeCs, at the pleasure of the serving Lieutenant Governor, from Canadian Armed Forces and Police, Fire, and Emergency Services. Military appointments for serving officers must be supported by a recommendation from the Commanding Officer of the AdeC’s regular reserve or cadet unit and approved by the Commander, 4th Canadian Division or their respective component commander. All other uniformed appointments must be approved by the Commanding Officer of the AdeC’s sponsoring unit or organization.
Dress
Dress Standards
While on duty, AdeCs primarily represent the Lieutenant Governor, but they also continue to uphold the values and traditions of their own service, regiment, unit, or organization. For this reason, presentation matters: AdeCs are expected to be well groomed, and their uniforms should be in excellent condition -appropriately tailored, clean and pressed, with leather polished.
In most cases, AdeCs wear General Service Dress while on duty. This includes a service jacket, long sleeved shirt, tie, ribbons, shoulder cyphers (large 13/8-inch version), and an aiguillette. This is the standard attire for duties at Queen’s Park and for the majority of the events in the community. Members of other paramilitary organizations may follow their own dress regulations, as appropriate. The wearing of hats signifies that an AdeC is officially on duty. Ribbons are typically worn on General Service Dress, unless medals are specifically required for an event.
Aiguillettes
The aiguillette is worn on the right shoulder by Royal and viceregal personages and AdeCs to Royal and viceregal representatives, but on the left shoulder by AdeCs to senior military or police officers and military attachés. Uniformed AdeCs wear an aiguillette in the presence of the Lieutenant Governor or when assigned to a Lieutenant Governor from another province in Canada.
Viceregal Cypher
AdeCs to the Lieutenant Governor wear the Lieutenant Governor’s Viceregal cypher on their general service dress, regimental dress, and mess kit. The cypher is on a gold wire badge and comes in two sizes, 13/8” and 1” in height. The placement of the badges is subject to the AdeC’s unit or organization’s dress regulations.