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British Titles of Nobility

顿耻谤颈苍驳听颁补苍补诲补鈥檚 early history聽as a British colony, Britain actively promoted the idea that colonial Canadian society聽should be rigidly聽hierarchical, with power concentrated in a clique of聽wealthy, well-bred aristocrats. Much of colonial Canada鈥檚 early elite聽were thus literal lords, counts, dukes, earls and other members of British聽nobility聽imported directly from the U.K. As the years progressed, prominent Canadian-born officials began to earn enough status to be celebrated with British honours of their own. Seven of Canada鈥檚 first eight prime ministers were knighted (and one was made a baron), as were dozens of prominent Canadian-born businessmen, senators, bureaucrats, judges, generals and other men of high social standing.

By the dawn of the 20th century, however, some began to feel that Britain was going a bit too far with all of this. Under the administration of British prime minister David Lloyd George (1863-1945, served 1916-1922) in particular, knighthoods and peerages were quite brazenly sold to unaccomplished social-climbers, and the whole idea of titles soon became associated with a corrupt sort of elitism inappropriate for a democratic society. In 1919, the Canadian Parliament passed the so-called Nickle Resolution聽sponsored by parliamentarian聽William Folger Nickle (1869-1957), which formally asked聽Britain to stop聽offering 鈥渁ny title of honour or titular distinction鈥� to Canadian residents. The policy has remained in place ever since, though it was briefly suspended during the Anglophilic administration of R.B. Bennett (1870-1947, served 1930-1935) 鈥� who himself died Canada鈥檚 most lavishly-titled PM.

Medals

The聽creation, awarding, and wearing of medals has long been a prominent aspect of Canadian civic culture, and today Canada is home to more orders, decorations, and ribbons than many old-school European aristocracies.

Broadly speaking, Canadian medals are divided into two distinct categories: civilian and military. Military medals are self-explanatory: in acknowledgement of service in the country鈥檚 armed forces, Canada鈥檚 military hierarchy will award its soldiers with special decorations of聽achievement, with the most prestigious medals given for dramatic聽acts of bravery or heroism on the battlefield.聽Civilian medals, meanwhile, are awarded by special government committees to recognize ordinary Canadian citizens who have 鈥渕ade a difference鈥� in their community, sometimes through notable achievements in fields like聽art, science, or politics; sometimes through impressive聽acts of charity, compassion, or selflessness.

Winning medals in Canada聽can be an important聽social indicator of one鈥檚 achievements and importance to broader Canadian society, and a particularly accomplished man or woman may collect many during his or her lifetime. At high society Canadian parties 鈥� particularly those that are hosted by the government 鈥� wearing lots of medals is聽a common way of displaying status.

Important聽Canada Medals

Excluding the provincial orders and the Order of Merit, all the medals profiled above are formally awarded by the governor general of Canada, who, by virtue of his office, is automatically the nominal head of the various boards and councils that decide who should receive the聽honours. Medal-awarding ceremonies tend to be one of the most-high profile activities of any governor general鈥檚 career and are yet one more example of the tight relationship between modern Canadian awards and historic traditions of British chivalry.

Uniforms

During the long reign of Queen Victoria (1819-1901), which spanned the decades between 1837 and 1901, Britain underwent a phase of great obsession with imperial aesthetics, which brought an unprecedented level of fussiness towards imperial ceremonies and traditions in its colonies.聽One of the key principles of Victorian imperial aesthetics was that everyone important should wear splendid-looking uniforms so that their rank and status was always very visually obvious. Well into the 20th century, it was common for high-ranking officials within the Canadian government, such as governors general, prime ministers, ambassadors and cabinet ministers 鈥� as well as their various aides and advisors聽鈥� to don fancy uniforms during important ceremonies (which, of course, were happening all the time). The most iconic of these was the so-called Windsor Uniform, a high-collared black tunic with gold braid that was worn by almost everyone important at one time in Canada鈥檚 early years.

Things changed significantly after World War II (1939-1945), however, and as Canadian culture became more egalitarian, middle class,聽and casual, ceremonies became far more relaxed, and the wearing of uniforms was steadily phased out. Today, it鈥檚 only the governor general and provincial lieutenant governors who still occasionally don uniforms for special occasions, and even then, the practice is still rare enough for every instance to be noteworthy.

Titles and Forms of Address

Despite the abolishment of formal British titles, Canada has still retained a fairly聽grand system of titles for its political elites. Canadian politicians and judges of most rank are usually referred to as 鈥�The Honourable鈥� (or “The Hon.“)聽in all official references, while prime ministers, governor generals and chief justices of the Supreme Court are given the added title of 鈥�The Right Honourable.鈥� Governors general and their wives/husbands are also given the title 鈥�His/Her Excellency,鈥� while mayors of cities are known by the rather ostentatious 鈥�His/Her Worship.鈥�

In speech, only the 鈥淲orship鈥� and 鈥淓xcellency鈥� titles are usually spoken (as in, 鈥済ood morning, Your Excellency鈥︹��) while most other politicians are just called by their titles, often prefixed with 鈥淢r.鈥� or 鈥淢adam鈥� (as in, Minister Jones, 鈥済ood morning, Minister/Mr. Minister鈥�). Judges are usually just called 鈥淵our Honour,鈥� though in some provinces they still do things the British way, and use the title 鈥�My Lord/Lady鈥� or the even more old-fashioned 鈥�Mr. / Madam Justice [name],鈥� as in 鈥淢r. Justice Jones.鈥�

Any Canadian who has won a special medal is usually entitled to certain 鈥�post-nominals,鈥� which is to say, letters after their names. For instance, 鈥淩obert Smith, O.C.鈥� for a holder of the Order of Canada. All sorts of other institutions in Canadian society do this as well; lawyers of the King’s Counsel rank put 鈥淜.C.” after their name, members of the Privy Council put 鈥淧.C.,鈥� and people who are particularly proud of their academic credentials may tack on a 鈥淧hD鈥� (doctorate degree), 鈥淢A鈥� (master’s degree)聽 or even 鈥淏A鈥� (bachelor’s degree). How far you’re willing to go depends on how much personal pride you happen to have.