Attribuer des médailles

Hello Your Excellency,
I agree with you completely in what you are saying. It would be so nice if everyone just took a little more time and actually stopped to see what was going on around them. People often don't give people who are "everyday" people enough credit. They pay more attention to famous idols instead of the wonderful people who are around them daily. Everyone has something special to offer. I just wish everyone in this world paused for a minute to realize that.

People now always tend to focus on the bad things in the world...and I'm not saying to ignore it, because that wouldn't help anything. But with what you said, "Perhaps as you discover all that your fellow citizens are accomplishing by simply getting involved, you may feel inspired to follow their lead" - exactly. It only takes one person to get the ball rolling so to speak.

I am attending Encounters with Canada in November and I am so excited to actually be getting this opportunity to go to Ottawa and see other parts of this beautiful country we live in.
This is a very good idea of a website you have here Your Excellency. I hope that someday I will have the privlidge to meet you in person.

-Briana

I think most people, if they live long enough, do some noble deeds, though most of the time few others know about it. But virtue has its own rewards for the person performing the good deed and for the recipient. No applause sought or needed.

Most people are not heroes of community or charitable involvement, nor do they desire to be, and most never have the opportunity to do some random heroic act, yet everyone has value as a person, whether that value is apparent or not, even if all they ever do or want to do is make money and please themselves with it. At least they're self-satisfied and contributing to the economy.

But certainly those who rise above the common herd in their acts of outstanding altruism and achievement deserve our recognition and applause for what they do. They are the exception and not the rule, which is why they get medals and everyday heroes don't.

The awards that you have presented in your tenure so far as the Governor General has been interesting and also your notifications regarding members of the Canadian Forces who have paid the ultimate sacrifice has been soothing for all Canadians. As a member of the military I am proud to have you as our Commander-in-Chief.

Her excellency:

I am most appreciative of this opportunity and forum to discuss issues that are important to us as Canadians.

The issue most dear to my heart is family law reform. There are some 40,000 children a year who are effected by the separation of their parents.

These children suffer a bereavement when they are forced to lose an equal relationship with one of their parents by people who never even speak to them and yet claim to act in their best interests.

I think it is very important that we continue to be a leader in the world on social matters and to uphold our international commitments.

I point to the United Nations Hague Convention on the Rights of the Child. Hundreds of children gathered at the United Nations to discuss and make recommendations to world governments on what was in their best interests and what they need in their lives to be happy, healthy, and successful in whatever they choose.

The entire articles can be found here: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/k2crc.htm

I believe children have the right to be raised by both parents and that those parents have equal rights and responsibilities in raising their children.

If this forum allows the issues of separating families to be brought to the forefront I will be so very thankful and hopeful for the future of my 2 sons and 2 step sons.

Most sincerely;
Kris Titus
Board of Directors
Fathers 4 Justice Canada

Your Excellency,

As a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002, I felt humbled to be recognized for my small contribution (by the Lieutenant Governor) to Nova Scotia and it's citizens. I have had the opportunity to meet many worthy Canadians who have made many valuable contributions to our country. This medal along with the Order of Canada, the Caring Canadians award and the other medals that the royal representatives hand out across this country provide inspiration and recognition for all Canadians who desire to create a country of which we can be proud. Thank you.

Hello, Interestingly enough I had googled Canadian Culture and it landed me here. It was my intent to gather points from various sites in an effort to compile an unbiased and fully Canadian perspective on our diverse culture. I have lived in Ontario Canada all of my 50 years yet my evaluation alone is not enough to help me in my task. I have been randomly selected along with 103 other Ontarians and we accepted a challenge to be a member of the Citizens Assembly on Electoral Reform. It is our mandate to study our current electoral system "First Past the Post" and evaluate other systems in use around the world. Together assembly members will partcipate in a full, open debate on these systems. We will consult with you, our fellow Ontarians, and engage you in unprecedented discussion of questions that are fundamental to our democratic system. Our purpose is to make a recommendation by May 15, 2007 as to whether Ontario should retain its current system or adopt a different one. If change is recommended the Ontario Government has promised to hold a referendum to determine if that alternative will be implemented in the province. It is so important that as many people as possible are aware of what we are about and share their vision of what they value and what principals are important to them. I encourage you to visit the website www.citizensassembly.gov.on.ca. Please get informed, get involved, and get excited. This is a first for Ontario, as ordinary citizens we have never had such a meaningful role in shaping our democracy.

Your Excellency,

I'm sure you are well aware of the importance of national (and even provincial) honours. However, I suspect, sadly, that too many Canadians don't even know of the existence of our many awards and medals, or view them simply as perks for those who have wealth or political clout. This may or may not be because Canadians, in general, are a people who appreciate success, but tend not to celebrate it in an overt, triumphant manner.

Perhaps, in that vein, this is why we have not, since 1919, conferred titular honours (leaving aside the honourifics of "His/Her Excellency" and "The Right Honourable") on notable Canadians. Such elevation was, and perhaps still is, seen as "non-democratic." However, as you have pointed out, Your Excellency, honours in Canada are not bestowed simply because their recipients are rich, or belong to a certain group. Instead they are the way in which Her Majesty, and, of course, her vice-regal, recognize the contribution of outstanding journalists, scientists, artists, military personnel, and even housewives, truck divers, cooks, and the like - everyday Canadians who have achieved something wonderful for their country, or shown bravery beyond the norm. Clerly, the undemocratic perception is founded on a misinterpretation.

Thus, it might be worthwhile to reconsider the policy regarding titular honours, possibly knight and damehoods. In the United Kingdom, where such titles continue, a mathematician or musician being bestowed with the title Dame or Sir is not perceived as elitist, and, further, the title makes the recipient's honour all the more noticeable. Winners of the Order of Canada may carry the post nominal "CC", "OC", or "CM", but rarely are these spoken or written when the person's name is mentioned after their receiving the award. Recipients of a knight or damehood, on the other hand, are always referred to as "Sir" or "Dame," whether in general conversation or in the media (regard Sir Norman Foster and Sir Elton John in the UK, or Dame Sylvia Cartwright in New Zealand). I don’t espouse the return to the awarding of British honours on Canadians, but allowing Her Majesty to bestow the top two levels of the Royal Victorian Order (Her personal gift) on Canadians, and a new level of the Order of Canada which confers a pronominal title on its recipient, awarded only to those who have succeeded with the most distinguished achievements, would put our national orders more in the public eye, and perhaps encourage Canadians to shuck this self-imposed humility when it comes to success. Imagine a Dame Shania Twain or a Sir Eric Arthur!

I might also venture to suggest that there be two specific days for conferring awards such as the Order of Canada, or, at least, announcing the names of recipients: perhaps the Queen’s birthday (May 24) and Thanksgiving Day. As in the UK, the lists should be published in our national newspapers.

Public prominence is the only way to get Canada’s honours out from behind the doors of Ridau Hall and into the national consciousness, encouraging Canadians to celebrate their collective achievements. I believe that titular honours and recipients being widely announced on prominent public holidays would certainly be a step in the right direction.

Excellence,

Dans les actualités, je souhaiterais qu’on nous explique davantage ce qu’ont fait les gens qui reçoivent des médailles. Un peu de leur courage nous serait alors transmis. Un peu de leur générosité. Cela nous rendrait peut-être plus courageux et plus généreux!

Pour ma part, j’ai souvent vu des gens « ordinaires » poser des gestes « extraordinaires ». Il n’est pas nécessairement dommage que ces personnes ne soient pas célèbres. Je pense qu’ils n’ont pas besoin de cela.

J’ai également rencontré des « survivants » de grandes épreuves. C’est incroyable la force qui se dégage de ces personnes.

Manon Hétu
Montréal

Your Excellency,

I would like to note that I agree entirely with the ideas expressed by the participant above: Enhancing the Canadian Honours System to award some kind of prenominal to one's name in certain extraordinary circumstances (besides "The Honourable") would be a wonderful step in ensuring that Canadians are made aware of the exemplary acts of their friends and neighbours.

In response to Your Excellency's blog entry, Your Excellency's role in the awarding of medals and other honours in Canada is a perfect example of the irreplaceable nature of the Office of the Governor General. In the direct management of the day-to-day affairs of Canada, our head of Government would never be able to dedicate enough time or attention to recognize the extraordinary feats of Canadians.

I would like to extend my congratulations to all those who have been recognized through the Canadian Honours System—I am sure that each and every one of these fine Canadians (and, occasionally, non-Canadians) earned their recognition, and we (as Canadians) should stand proudly to congratulate them, and to thank them for their selfless acts on behalf of Canada both domestically and abroad.


Yours truly,

Christopher Girodat
Newton—North Delta

Votre Excellence,
Comme Briana, je suis tout à fait d'accord avec vous. Le fait de distribuer des médailles , d'honorer des gens qui se démarquent dans leur milieu est à mon sens une chose nécessaire. PLus souvent qu'autrement , les actes méritoires sont passé sous silence parce qu'on accorde davantage de crédit à ceux qui sont sous les feux de la rampe qu'aux vedettes réelles , ceux et celles qui font de réels exploits dans notre entourage immédiat.
Des héros il y en a dans la rue à côté, et cela mérite d'être souligné. Ces gens qui se dévouent pour le bien des autres, qui ont risqué leur vie pour en sauver une autre méritent d'être reconnus et honorés.
Non, distribuer des médailles n'est pas inutile.

Votre excellence,
Comme plusieurs personnes telle que moi qui travaille pour le mouvement des cadets du Canada, plusieurs ont reçu la médaille du jubilée en 2002. Cependant, cette médaille était pour souligner le merveilleux travail et l'implication de chacun pour la jeunesse canandienne. Quelques-uns ont fait la demande pour cette médaille à leur député et l'ont reçu via leur courrier. Pourtant nous somme des milliers au Canada à donner la même implication et le même rendement. Je ne vois pas l'intérêt à donner des médailles sans que ce soit juste pour tout le monde. Il n'y a aucun mérite à recevoir un honneur qui doit être donné à tout le monde et remis par la poste. Normalement, la réception d'une médaille est lorsque l'on a accompli des oeuvres exraordaires et non quand on en fait la demande.

Je vous remercie de votre attention.

There are a number of unsung heroes - super heroes actually – WOMEN and men from who do not get the recognition they deserve for trying to bring awareness to the biggest social problem in Canadian Society today.

This problem is the extreme bias in the family law courts that has lead to fatherlessness or a diminished role for fathers in the lives of millions of Canadian children. This problem is the main contributor to the suicide rate among males that is an order of magnitude higher than that for women. This problem is perpetuated by a divorce industry of professionals who make themselves rich by bleeding the assets of Canadian unfortunate enough to be going through a divorce by encouraging and fueling the conflict.

These men and women dress as the Super Heroes that their children love – because they fell they are heroes to their Children. They are led by Wonder Woman (AKA Kris Titus of Orono, Ontario) and are fighting everyday for the Justice and Equality in the family law system that can only be achieved through changes to the Law to make EQUAL PARENTING the law of the land.

They are making huge sacrifices to try and bring about political and legal / judicial changes. They want to be parents to their kids and want changes to the system that will allow others to also be equal parents to their kids.

You will see them atop bridges, buildings or overpasses with their protest signs. Some may go to jail for their civil protest but all are making big sacrifices to be part of the solution.

They do not expect medals in return, but please help them achieve justice and equality by giving the millions of children who do not see their parents equally a VOICE in this political struggle.

Denis VD
Aurora, ON

In Ontario there are 20,000 kinship homes and believe me I know many a grandma in their 60's raising one or two special needs grandchildren (with no bio parent involved) who deserve a medal. Better than that they deserve to be treated as the angels they are and should be getting the government help in raising their grandchildren.
Betty Cornelius
Founder of CANGRANDS NATIONAL KINSHIP SUPPORT www.cangrands.com