{"id":189,"date":"2025-03-17T21:39:48","date_gmt":"2025-03-18T01:39:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hypelabs.dev\/lgo-new\/?page_id=189"},"modified":"2026-01-22T13:24:22","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T18:24:22","slug":"honouring-ontarians","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/lgontario.ca\/en\/learn\/community-duties\/honouring-ontarians\/","title":{"rendered":"Honouring Ontarians"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the Crown\u2019s representative, the Lieutenant Governor recognizes Ontarians through the honours system. Honours and awards acknowledge the excellence, achievements, and contributions of role models from all walks of life. By highlighting their commitment, they strengthen the social fabric of the province and inspire our society. During presentation ceremonies throughout the year, the Lieutenant Governor takes great pride in recognizing the achievements of those who make outstanding contributions to the vitality of their communities.<\/p>\n

Ontario honours and awards<\/h2>\n

The Government of Ontario has established several official honours and awards, which are presented by the Lieutenant Governor. Nominations are submitted to an independent honours advisory council, which provides the Government with recommendations.<\/p>\n

Order of Ontario<\/h2>\n

\"OrderThe Order of Ontario is the province\u2019s highest civilian honour. It recognizes Ontarians who have demonstrated the highest level of excellence and achievement in their field, and whose impact has left a legacy in our province, in our country, or around the world. The Lieutenant Governor serves as the order\u2019s Chancellor while in office, presiding over the Order\u2019s annual investiture.<\/p>\n

Learn more about this honour and how to nominate deserving individuals here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ontario Medals<\/h2>\n

Queen Elizabeth\u00a0II Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship<\/h3>\n

\"QueenHonours individuals for their exceptional long-term efforts and outstanding contributions to the well-being of their communities throughout the province.
\nLearn more<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ontario Medal for Police Bravery<\/h3>\n

\"Ontario Honours police officers for individual acts of outstanding courage.
\nLearn more<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ontario Medal for Firefighter Bravery<\/h3>\n

\"OntarioHonours firefighters for individual acts of outstanding courage.
\nLearn more<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers<\/h3>\n

\"OntarioHonours youth for their expectional volunteer contributions.
\nLearn more<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

Ontario Awards<\/h2>\n

Elizabeth Dowdeswell Award for Advancing Democracy Through Education<\/h3>\n

\"TheCreated in 2025 to commemorate the legacy of Ontario\u2019s 29th lieutenant governor. Recognizes Ontario educators who champion democratic values and civic engagement through innovative teaching practices. Learn more<\/a>.<\/p>\n

James Bartleman Indigenous Youth Creative Writing Award<\/h3>\n

\"TheCommemorates the legacy of Ontario\u2019s 27th lieutenant governor by recognizing Indigenous students for their creative writing talent. Learn more<\/a>.<\/p>\n

David C. Onley Award for Leadership in Accessibility<\/h3>\n

\"TheCommemorates the legacy of Ontario\u2019s 28th lieutenant governor by recognizing Ontarians who have gone above and beyond to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. Learn more<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Hilary M. Weston Scholarship<\/h3>\n

\"TheCommemorates the legacy of Ontario\u2019s 26th lieutenant governor and is awarded to two graduate-level social work students who specialize in the area of mental health. Learn more<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Lincoln M.\u00a0Alexander Award<\/h3>\n

\"Col.Commemorates the legacy of Ontario\u2019s 24th lieutenant governor by recognizing three young people who have shown strong leadership in eliminating racial discrimination. Learn more<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ontario Senior Achievement Award<\/h3>\n

Honours individuals for significant contributions to their communities after the age of 65.
\nLearn more<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lieutenant Governor\u2019s Awards<\/h2>\n

A number of independent organizations have created awards in partnership with successive Lieutenant Governors to recognize achievements in specific fields of endeavour.<\/p>\n

Lieutenant Governor\u2019s Awards that are currently presented include:<\/p>\n

Lieutenant Governor\u2019s Community Volunteer Award for Students<\/h3>\n

Established in 2000 by the Hon.\u00a0Hilary M. Weston to encourage youth volunteerism, this\u00a0award\u00a0encourages volunteerism among young people and recognizes students who have far exceeded the number of volunteer hours required to graduate. Every year, this award is presented to one Grade 12 student in each Ontario secondary school. Each student receives a personalized certificate and an award pin. This award is administered by the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries.<\/p>\n

Lieutenant Governor\u2019s Award for Design Excellence in Architecture<\/h3>\n

Established in 2015, this award is presented every two years to recognize projects completed constructed in Ontario within the preceding six years. The award winner is selected from among the finalists of the Ontario Association of Architects Design Excellence Awards. A jury of experts determines that the winner has demonstrated excellence in creativity, context, sustainability, good business, and legacy. The award is administered by the Ontario Association of Architects<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Lieutenant Governor\u2019s Ontario Heritage Awards<\/h3>\n

Created in 2007 by the Honorable James Bartleman, in partnership with the Ontario Heritage Trust<\/a>, this award recognizes volunteers who have dedicated at least 25 years to preserving, protecting, and promoting community heritage. It is presented as part of a special category of the Trust\u2019s Community Heritage Recognition Program. A second award, the Lieutenant Governor\u2019s Award for Youth Achievement in Ontario Heritage Conservation, celebrates the commitment of young people. Presented as part of the annual Young Heritage Leaders program, it recognizes the most exceptional youth group in each of the built, cultural and natural heritage nomination categories, and the most outstanding individual nominee across all categories.<\/p>\n

Lieutenant Governor\u2019s Award for Marketing Excellence in Ontario<\/h3>\n

Presented in partnership with the\u00a0Economic Developers Council of Ontario<\/a>, this award recognizes excellence in marketing in the field of municipal economic development. Created in 2006, the annual Lieutenant Governor\u2019s Award for Marketing Excellence in Ontario rewards the most outstanding achievement among the winners in the categories of business creation, tourism, and product development.<\/p>\n

Lieutenant Governor\u2019s Cup<\/h3>\n

Created in 1953 by the\u00a0Royal Agricultural Winter Fair<\/a>, with the approval of then Lieutenant Governor, the Hon.\u00a0Louis Orville Breithaupt, this cup is presented annually to the best Canadian three-year-old sport horse. It is open to horses bred in Canada that show strong potential in the hunter, jumper, dressage, or eventing disciplines. This competition showcases Canadian sport horse breeding, a field in which Canada has since emerged as a major player.<\/p>\n

Viceregal Commendation<\/h3>\n

Approved by Queen Elizabeth\u00a0II as part of the national honours system in 1999, the Viceregal Commendation is presented by the Governor General, lieutenant governors, and territorial commissioners for long-term and\/or outstanding service to their offices.<\/p>\n

The recipients have either served on staff (paid or volunteer) during an incumbent\u2019s mandate in a commendable fashion, or performed one or more outstanding acts as a member of the incumbent\u2019s staff (paid or volunteer) for the benefit of the office of the Crown\u2019s representative or territorial commissioner.<\/p>\n

National Honours<\/h2>\n

The Lieutenant Governor may present\u00a0national honours, including the Order of Canada, bravery decorations, the Sovereign\u2019s Medal for Volunteers, and commemorative medals, on behalf of the Governor General.<\/p>\n

Visit the Governor General\u2019s website<\/a>\u00a0to learn more about the Canadian honours system or to nominate someone for a national honour.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Recognizing achievements and contributions<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2213,"parent":103,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-189","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lgontario.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/189","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lgontario.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lgontario.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lgontario.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lgontario.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=189"}],"version-history":[{"count":82,"href":"https:\/\/lgontario.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/189\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2171,"href":"https:\/\/lgontario.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/189\/revisions\/2171"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lgontario.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/103"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lgontario.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2213"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lgontario.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}