Sponsor

Government of Ontario

Description

The Order of Ontario is the province’s highest civilian honour. It is awarded to an Ontarian who has shown the highest level of excellence and achievement in their field, and whose impact has left a legacy in our province, in our country and around the world. Members of the Order are a collective of Ontario’s finest citizens, whose contributions have shaped — and continue to shape — the province’s history and place in Canada.

You can nominate someone for achievements and excellence in any field. Some examples include:

• business and technology
• healthcare and medicine
• education and academia
• engineering and architecture
• skilled trades
• mining
• arts and culture
• sports and entertainment
• law and social justice
• media and journalism
• social and community services
• science and aerospace
• literature and writing
• environment and conservation

Upon admission, members of the Order of Ontario are invested with the Order’s insignia (a distinguishing mark or emblem worn to signify membership or achievement) by the Lieutenant Governor as the Queen’s representative. Appointees are given the post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials or post-nominal titles (letters placed after a person’s name) to indicate the honour held by the individual.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Order of Ontario, a nominee must be:

• a long-term or former resident of Ontario (the nominee does not need to be a Canadian citizen)
• someone whose career, in any field, has had a major impact or influence on the province, Canada or abroad

You cannot nominate:

• yourself
• someone who is deceased
• an elected federal, provincial or municipal representative while they are in office
• a sitting judge of any court
• one of Ontario's Legislative Officers while in office (Auditor General, Ombudsman, Information and Privacy Commissioner, Financial Accountability Officer, Integrity Commissioner, Chief Electoral Officer)
• a volunteer
• someone for acts of bravery

Prize

The members’ official portraits are taken and they are invested with the Order of Ontario insignia. The insignia is in the form of the Ontario trillium (the official provincial flower) and includes the shield and crown.

How to Apply

Applications may be submitted online, using the application form provided on the Order of Ontario webpage by the external deadline.

Please also submit a copy of the nomination to research.services@uoguelph.ca by the external deadline.

For More Information

Contact kkariyap@uoguelph.ca or see the Order of Ontario website.