National Order of Quebec facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids National Order of Quebec Ordre national du Québec
Flag of the order
Awarded by the lieutenant governor of Quebec-in-Council
Type	Order of merit (provincial)
Established	20 June 1984
Motto	Honneur au peuple du Québec (French for 'Homage to the people of Quebec')
Eligibility	Residents of Quebec nominated by the Council and non-Quebeckers nominated by the Premier of Quebec
Status	Currently constituted
Founder	Gilles Lamontagne
Grades	Grand Officer (grand officier/grande officière) (GOQ) Officer (officier/officière) (OQ) Knight (chevalier/chevalière) (CQ)
Precedence
Next (higher)	Venerable Order of Saint John
Next (lower)	Saskatchewan Order of Merit
Ribbon bar of a Grand Officer Ribbon bar of an Officer

The National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is an order of merit in Quebec. Instituted in 1984 when Lieutenant Governor Jean-Pierre Côté granted royal assent to the Loi sur l'Ordre national du Québec (National Order of Quebec Act), the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to honour current or former Quebec residents for conspicuous achievements in any field, being thus described as the highest honour in Quebec. In 1986, the order was expanded to include honorary membership for people outside Quebec.

Structure and appointment
Insignia
Inductees
- Quebec inductees
- Non-Quebec inductees
See also

Structure and appointment

Although the National Order of Quebec was established with the granting of royal assent by Quebec's lieutenant governor and the Canadian sovereign is the fount of honour, the viceroy does not, as in other provinces, form an explicit part of the organization. Instead, the monarch's representative is related to the order only by virtue of his or her place in council, collectively termed the government of Quebec, to which the constitution of the Order of Quebec makes specific reference.

The order contains three grades, each with accordant post-nominal letters and place in the Canadian order of precedence for honours, decorations, and medals. They are, in descending hierarchical order:

Grand Officer (grand officier/grande officière; GOQ)
Officer (officier/officière; OQ)
Knight (chevalier/chevalière; CQ)

Nominations to the National Order of Quebec are sought in Quebec's daily and weekly media publications and are directed to the Council of the National Order of Quebec, elected by and amongst the members of the order for a period of three years and headed by a president elected by the council for two years. This body is mandated to short-list candidates and forward their suggestions to the Governor-in-Council. Any person born, living, or who has lived in Quebec, save for anyone serving as a Member of the National Assembly of Quebec, is eligible to be nominated and names may be submitted posthumously. The Cabinet may also, without the input of the Council of the National Order of Quebec, put forward the names of non-Quebecers for appointment as honorary members. Promotion through the grades is possible for both substantive and honorary members. Admission recognizes conspicuous meritorious actions that improve or support Quebec and/or its language and culture.

Insignia

Frederick Andermann wearing the insignia of an Officer in 2013

Upon admission into the Order of Quebec, members are presented with various insignia of the organization—a medallion, miniature, and button. All are administered by the Regulations for the Insignia of the National Order of Quebec and were designed by Madeleine Dansereau, who was inspired by the heraldic elements of the provincial flag, notably the colours of blue and white used on the order's ribbon and the fleur-de-lis. The badge of a Grand Officer consists of two 18kt gold plates, in the shape of a cross formed by two 60 millimetres (2.4 in) by 40 millimetres (1.6 in) arms, symmetrically superimposed atop one another 4 mm apart, the obverse face a high-polish, rusticated surface; at the lower left corner is a white enamel fleur-de-lis. On the reverse of the badge is inscribed the order's motto—Honneur au peuple du Québec (homage to the people of Quebec)—and a serial number at the base of the vertical bar. The badge for Officers is of a nearly identical design, but made of arms 50 millimetres (2.0 in) long by 25 millimetres (0.98 in) wide, the obverse plate in 18k gold with an applied gold fleur-de-lis, and the rear in sterling silver. Knights have a medal with a 40 millimetres (1.6 in) diameter, brushed silver medallion with a symmetrically placed, etched cross with arms 30 millimetres (1.2 in) long by 20 millimetres (0.79 in) wide and filled with a highly polished, rusticated surface; a gold fleur-de-lis is mounted at the lower, left side of the cross. Each member will also receive miniature versions of their insignia, identical in appearance save for size: those for all grades being 18 millimetres (0.71 in) wide in each direction or in circumference. A lapel pin is also used for wear on casual civilian clothing. Male members wear their emblems suspended from a 38 millimetres (1.5 in) wide ribbon, at the collar for Grand Officers and Officers, and on a vertical ribbon on a medal bar on the left chest for Knights; women Grand Officers and Officers wear their insignia on a ribbon bow pinned at the left shoulder, and female Knights carry their medals in the same fashion as the men. The ribbon for miniatures is 18 millimetres (0.71 in) wide.

The regulations of the National Order of Quebec stipulate that the premier presents new inductees with their insignia, either on the National Holiday of Quebec or another day during the National Week. The ceremony takes place in the Salon Rouge of the parliament building in Quebec City, though exceptions are sometimes made when inductees cannot be present (notably for some non-Quebecer appointments). The insignia remain property of the Crown in Right of Quebec and must be returned upon a holder's cessation of membership in the society, whether by death or dismissal.

Inductees

The following are some notable appointees into the National Order of Quebec:

Quebec inductees

Grand Officer

Jean Victor Allard CC CBE GOQ DSO ED CD, Chief of the Defence Staff, appointed 1985
Marcel Bélanger OC GOQ, economist, appointed 1974
Jean Béliveau CC GOQ, hockey player, appointed 2010
Lucien Bouchard PC GOQ, 27th Premier of Quebec, appointed 2008
Robert Bourassa GOQ, 22nd Premier of Quebec, appointed posthumously 2008
Jean Campeau GOQ, politician and businessman, appointed Grand Officer in 1990
Leonard Norman Cohen GOQ, singer-songwriter, appointed 2008
Maurice Couture CC, Archbishop of Quebec 1990–2002, appointed 2003
Robert Després CC GOQ, businessman, appointed 2003
Jean Drapeau CC GOQ, mayor of Montreal, appointed 1987
Marcelle Ferron GOQ, painter and stained glass artist, appointed 1992
Gérard Filion GOQ, newspaper director, appointed 1989
Armand Frappier CC GOQ, researcher, appointed 1985
Paul Gérin-Lajoie CC GOQ QC, appointed Officer in 1987 and Grand Officer in 1998
Phil Gold CC GOQ FRSC FRCPC MACP, scientist, physician, appointed Officer in 1989 and Grand Officer in 2019
Emmett Johns CM GOQ, Canadian priest and humanitarian, appointed 2003
Daniel Johnson Jr. GOQ, 25th Premier of Quebec, appointed 2008
Pierre-Marc Johnson GOQ, 24th Premier of Quebec, appointed 2008
Phyllis Barbara Lambert CC GOQ OAL FRAIC FRSC FRCA, architect and philanthropist
Bernard Landry GOQ, 28th Premier of Quebec, appointed 2008
Charles Philippe Leblond GOQ, scientist, professor, appointed Grand Officer in 2001
Félix Leclerc OC GOQ, singer-songwriter, appointed 1985
Jean Paul Lemieux CC GOQ, painter, appointed posthumously 1997
René Lévesque GOQ, 23rd Premier of Quebec, appointed posthumously 2008
Martin Brian Mulroney PC CC GOQ, 18th Prime Minister of Canada, appointed 2002
Alanis Obomsawin OC GOQ, filmmaker, First Nations activist, appointed 2016
Jacques Parizeau GOQ, 26th Premier of Quebec, appointed 2008
Jean-Paul Riopelle CC GOQ, painter, appointed Officer in 1988 and Grand Officer in 1994
Ethel Stark CM GOQ, violinist and conductor, appointed 2003
Charles Taylor CC GOQ FRSC FBA, philosopher, appointed 2003
Jean Vanier CC GOQ, philanthropist, theologian, founder of L'Arche, appointed 1992
Gilles Vigneault GOQ, singer-songwriter, appointed Knight in 1985 and Grand Officer in 2000

Officer

Yves Beauchemin OQ, novelist, appointed 2003
Laurent Beaudoin CMG CC OQ FCA, businessman appointed 1990
Francesco Bellini CM OQ, research scientist and entrepreneur, appointed 2004
Daniel Borsuk OQ, plastic surgeon, appointed 2019
Michel Brault OQ, filmmaker, appointed 2003
Boris Brott OC OOnt OQ, conductor, appointed 2014
Solange Chaput-Rolland OC OQ, appointed 1985
Jean Coutu OC OQ, businessman, appointed 1993
Richard Cruess CC OQ FRSC, orthopaedic surgeon and academic, appointed 2003
Bernard Derome CM OQ, news anchor, appointed 2006
Céline Dion CC OQ, singer, appointed 1998
Léon Dion OC OQ FRSC, author, teacher, intellectual, appointed 1990
Fernand Dumont OQ, author, intellectual, appointed 1992
Marie-Hélène Falcon OQ, dance and theatre, appointed 2003
Denise Filiatrault OC OQ, playwright, actor, appointed 2000
Anne Hébert CC OQ, writer, appointed 1985
Larkin Kerwin CC OQ FRSC, physicist, appointed 1988
Lucia Kowaluk CC OQ, community activist, appointed 2014
Louis Laberge OQ, union leader, appointed 1988
Normand Laprise OQ, chef and author, appointed 2009
Robert Lepage CC OQ, playwright, filmmaker, appointed 1999
Monique F. Leroux, CM OQ businesswoman, appointed 2012
Jean-Louis Lévesque CM OQ, entrepreneur, philanthropist, appointed 1991
Vincent Lemieux OQ, professor and political scientist, appointed 2003
André Melançon OQ, actor, screenwriter and film director, appointed 2013
Gaston Miron OQ, poet, appointed 1996
Ted Moses OQ, aboriginal chief, appointed 2002
Louise Otis OQ, judge, appointed 2003
Denise Ouellet-Grenier OQ, director of the L'Ordre national du Québec until 2001, appointed 2003
Lise Payette OQ, politician, writer, appointed 2001
Pierre Péladeau CM OQ businessman, appointed 1989
Louise Penny OC OQ, author, appointed 2017
Hubert Reeves CC OQ, astrophysicist, appointed 1994
Maurice Richard PC OC OQ, hockey player, appointed 1985
Mary Simon OC OQ, Governor General of Canada, appointed 1992
Mary Two-Axe Earley OQ, women's rights activist, appointed 1985
Jacques Villeneuve OQ, racing driver, appointed 1998

Knight

Jacques Amyot CQ, long-distance swimmer, appointed 2001
Denys Arcand CC CQ, filmmaker, appointed 1990
Frédéric Back OC CQ, animator, appointed 1989
Alice Benjamin, appointed 1993
Sylvie Bernier OC CQ, Olympic diver, appointed 1985
Ferdinand Biondi OC CQ, radio broadcaster, appointed 1985
Neil Bissoondath OC CQ, author, appointed 2010
Denise Bombardier CQ, journalist, appointed 2000
Claire Bonenfant CQ, president of the Quebec Status of Women Council, appointed 1991
Émile Bouchard CQ, hockey player, appointed 2008
Gaétan Boucher OC CQ, speed skater, appointed 1985
Isabelle Boulay CQ, singer, appointed 2012
Pierre Bourque CQ, mayor of Montreal, appointed 1993
Françoise David CQ, social and feminist activist, appointed 1999
Yvon Deschamps CQ, comedian, appointed 2001
Jean Duceppe CQ, actor, appointed 1985
Diane Dufresne CQ, singer and painter, appointed 2002
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif CQ, NFL player, appointed 2019
Gad Elmaleh, comedian, appointed 2017
Marc Favreau OC CQ, actor, appointed 1995
Jean-Pierre Ferland OC CQ, singer-songwriter
Madeleine Ferron CQ, writer, appointed 1992
Daniel Germain CQ, philanthropist, appointed 1997
Jacques Godbout CQ, writer and filmmaker, appointed 1998
Marc-André Hamelin OC CQ, pianist
Otto Joachim CQ, composer, musician, painter, appointed 1993
Roland-Benoît Jomphe OC CQ, poet, appointed 1987
Oliver Theophilus Jones OC CQ, pianist, organist, composer and arranger, appointed 1994
Pauline Julien CQ, singer-songwriter, appointed 1997
Madeleine Juneau CQ, museologist, teacher, nun, appointed 2017
Marie-Claire Kirkland-Casgrain CM CQ, appointed 1985
Françoise Labbé CQ, artist, appointed 1997
Jacques Lacombe CQ, conductor, appointed 2012
Jacques Lacoursière CM CQ, historian, appointed 2002
Guy Lafleur OC CQ, hockey player, appointed 2005
Guy Laliberté OC CQ, appointed 1997
Mario Lemieux OC CQ, hockey player, appointed 2009
Michel Lemieux OC CQ, performance artist and theatre director, appointed 2014
Édouard Lock OC CQ, dancer, appointed 2001
Louis Lortie OC CQ, pianist, appointed 1998
Norman McLaren CC CQ, animator and filmmaker, appointed 1985
Julie Payette OC CQ, astronaut, appointed 2000
Oscar Peterson CC CQ OOnt, jazz musician, appointed 1991
Chantal Petitclerc CC CQ, MSM, wheelchair athlete, Canadian senator, appointed 2005
Samuel Pierre, professor, appointed 2009
Victor Pilon OC CQ, director, theatre designer, visual designer and photographer, appointed 2014
Luc Plamondon OC CQ, songwriter, appointed 1990
Jean-Louis Roux CC CQ, actor and Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, appointed 1989
Hubert Sacy CC CQ, General manager of Éduc’alcool, appointed 2010
Pierre Théberge OC CQ, Museum director
Michèle Thibodeau-DeGuire CM CQ, engineer, appointed in 2005
Michel Tremblay CQ, playwright and author, appointed 1991
Alain Trudel CQ, conductor and trombonist, appointed 2019
Jesús Carles de Vilallonga CQ, painter, appointed 2011
Denis Villeneuve OC CQ, director and screenwriter, appointed in 2019
Paul Zumthor CQ, medievalist and literary historian, appointed 1992

Non-Quebec inductees

Honorary Grand Officer

Charles Dutoit OC GOQ, conductor, appointed 1995
François Hollande GCB GOQ, President of France, appointed 2014

Honorary Officer

Raymond Barre OQ, Prime Minister of France, appointed 1986
Jacques Chirac OAL, OQ, President of France, appointed 1987
Jim Douglas OQ, Governor of Vermont, appointed 2010
Michel Drucker OQ, television host, appointed Knight 2001, Officer 2010
Laurent Fabius OQ, Prime Minister of France, appointed 1986
Lionel Jospin OQ, Prime Minister of France, appointed 1998
Alain Juppé OQ, Prime Minister of France, appointed 1996
Antonine Maillet PC CC OQ ONB FRSC, Acadian writer and playwright, appointed 1990
Nana Mouskouri OQ, Greek singer, appointed 2013
Alain Peyrefitte OQ, French politician, appointed 1998
Jordi Pujol OQ, President of the Generalitat of Catalonia, appointed 1996
Jean-Pierre Raffarin OQ, Prime Minister of France, appointed 2003
Michel Rocard AC, OQ, Prime Minister of France, appointed 2000
Philippe Séguin OQ, President of the French National Assembly, appointed 2000
Edmund Stoiber , Minister-President of Bavaria, appointed 2003
Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga GCB, OQ, President of Latvia, appointed 2006

Honorary Knight

David Azrieli CM CQ, architect, appointed 1999
Gérard Depardieu CQ, actor, appointed 2002, removed from order 2023
Bernard Pivot OC CQ, television host, appointed 2001