Special Service Medal regulations amended

Summary#

This Order in Council issues letters patent that change the Special Service Medal Regulations. The changes clarify who can get the medal, how a recipient’s details are engraved, and how additional awards (bars) and ribbon devices are shown. The letters patent were issued on May 16, 2024 and signed in Ottawa on July 20, 2024.

What it does#

• Removes two earlier definitional terms from the Special Service Medal Regulations (the source text repeals those definitions).
• Changes what is engraved on the rim of the medal. Except when the Medal shows the Royal Crown and Cypher of Queen Elizabeth II, the rim will show a recipient’s service or regimental number, rank, initials and surname, or, for civilian recipients, their given names and surname.
• Says the Medal is awarded with a Bar that the Governor in Council will specify to represent the kind of service being recognized.
• Replaces the eligibility rules (section 5) to say a person can get the Medal if they served at the initiative, nomination or with the agreement of the Government of Canada and fall into one of these groups — and in several cases the service must have been on or after April 29, 2014:
  • a member of the Canadian Forces who engaged in special service the government decides merits recognition;
  • a member of an allied force who, on or after April 29, 2014, worked as an integral part of the Canadian Forces (including exchange personnel) and otherwise meets the Canadian Forces criteria;
  • a police officer sworn by a recognized Canadian police force who, on or after April 29, 2014, engaged in special service the government decides merits recognition;
  • a member of an allied police force who, on or after April 29, 2014, worked as an integral part of a Canadian police force (including exchange personnel) and otherwise meets the police criteria;
  • a Canadian citizen employed by the Crown in right of Canada, or by the Staff of the Non‑Public Funds, Canadian Forces, or under contract with the Government of Canada (but not members of the Canadian Forces or sworn police), who, on or after April 29, 2014, engaged in special service the government decides merits recognition.
• Rewrites the rules on wearing the Medal and Bars:
  • The Medal is worn on the left breast in the order of precedence set by the Governor in Council.
  • If one Bar is awarded it is centered on the ribbon; multiple Bars are spaced in the order earned (first Bar closest to the Medal).
  • On the undress ribbon, a silver maple leaf indicates a second Bar, a gold maple leaf a third Bar, and a red maple leaf a fourth Bar. If there are more than four Bars, maple leaves are combined to show the total.

Who's affected#

• Members of the Canadian Forces.
• Members of allied forces who worked closely with Canadian Forces, especially for service on or after April 29, 2014.
• Police sworn by a recognized Canadian police force and members of allied police forces who worked integrated with Canadian police (again, from April 29, 2014 onward).
• Canadian citizens employed by the Crown or under contract with the federal government (excluding serving service members and sworn police).
• People who already hold the Medal, medal administrators, and those who manufacture or engrave medals may notice changes to engraving and how additional awards are shown.

Why it matters#

• It clarifies who can be recognized with the Special Service Medal. That may allow people who worked with Canadian forces or police (including some allies and civilians) to be eligible for recognition for service from April 29, 2014 onward.
• The engraving and ribbon-device rules standardize how recipients’ details and multiple awards are shown. That helps recipients, units, and honour administrators keep records and wear medals consistently.
• For individuals and families, this can affect whether past service is formally recognized and how that recognition is displayed.