Читать книгу The Canadian Honours System - Christopher McCreery - Страница 5

A nation’s custom of conferring honours on its citizens — to reward or to recognize service or merit — has existed for hundreds if not thousands oof years. Regarded by some as unnecessary and by others as an important symbol of nationhood, a national honours system says much about the nation itself, including its approach to egalitarianism and merit and its belief in the importance of recognizing performance, professionalism, excellence, courage, and sacrifice.

In 2005, Christopher McCreery published The Canadian Honours System, and in the foreword to that book I noted that it was: “an important and comprehensive account that should be of interest to all Canadians, as well as a valuable addition to Canadian historical literature. On a subject that is still developing, it will surely need updating from time to time.”

That time has come, given that much has happened in the Canadian honours system during the past eight years, and in this second edition, McCreery brings the original up to date. Fifty percent longer than the first, this volume includes a section on the Canadian use of British honours up until 1967 when Canada introduced its own system. Previously, and for more than a century, Commonwealth honours were Canada’s honours, something worth remembering and of which many Canadians will be unaware.

This second edition also includes descriptions of new Canadian honours such as the Sacrifice Medal, General Campaign Star, General Service Medal, and Operational Service Medal. Included also are names of Canadians recently admitted to the rare Order of the Companions of Honour and to the even rarer Order of Merit. Included, as well, is the 2012 Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, a commemorative medal awarded to considerably more Canadians than in the past, fittingly so perhaps, given that a monarch’s celebration of sixty years on the throne is a rare event, indeed.

This book, like its predecessor, remains an important and comprehensive account that should be of interest to all Canadians, as well as a valuable addition to Canadian historical literature. As it demonstrates, national honours and awards are constantly developing to meet the nation’s changing needs, and no doubt it, too, will need updating again sometime. But for now, the fact that it is both authoritatively and entertainingly written should ensure that it has a wide readership.

General John de Chastelain, CC, CMM, CD, CH

Ottawa