Special Service Medal Regulations Amended

Summary#

These are letters patent that change the rules for the Special Service Medal Regulations. The changes, made by letters patent dated July 20, 2024 and published in the Canada Gazette on February 8, 2025, clarify who can get the medal, how the medal and its bars are marked, and how multiple bars are shown on the ribbon.

What it does#

• Removes two definitions from the regulations and replaces the eligibility rules with a clearer list of who can receive the medal under the authority of the Government of Canada.
• Requires the recipient’s details (service or regimental number, rank, initials and surname for military; given names and surname for civilians) to be engraved on the rim of the medal, except when the rim already bears the Royal Crown and Cypher of Queen Elizabeth II.
• States that the Medal is awarded with a Bar that the Governor in Council specifies to show the type of special service being recognized.
• Rewrites who is eligible to receive the Medal. Under the new wording, a person can be eligible if they served at the initiative, by nomination or with the agreement of the Government of Canada, and they are:
  • a member of the Canadian Forces who performed 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 participants) and otherwise meets the same criteria;
  • a person sworn as a police officer by a recognized Canadian police force who, on or after April 29, 2014, performed 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 participants) and otherwise meets the same criteria; or
  • a Canadian citizen employed by the Crown in right of Canada, employed by the Staff of the Non-Public Funds, Canadian Forces, or under contract with the Government of Canada (but not a member of the Canadian Forces or a sworn police officer) who, on or after April 29, 2014, performed special service the government decides merits recognition.
• Updates how the medal and bars are worn:
  • The Medal is to be worn on the left breast in the order set by the Governor in Council.
  • If only 1 Bar is awarded, it is centred on the ribbon; if there are several, they are spaced evenly in the order earned (the first bar earned sits closest to the medal).
  • On the undress ribbon, maple leaf devices indicate additional bars: a silver maple leaf for the awarding of a second Bar, a gold maple leaf for a third, and a red maple leaf for a fourth. If more than 4 Bars have been awarded, the maple leaves are combined to show the total.

Who's affected#

• Members of the Canadian Forces who receive or might receive the Special Service Medal.
• Members of allied forces and allied police forces who worked as an integral part of Canadian forces or police, especially for service on or after April 29, 2014.
• People sworn as police officers by recognized Canadian police forces.
• Canadian citizens employed by the Crown, staff of the Non-Public Funds, Canadian Forces, or contractors to the Government of Canada (when they are not military or sworn police) whose work meets the revised criteria.
• Current and future recipients concerned with how their medals are engraved and how multiple awards are displayed.

If it is unclear whether a specific person or role meets the new wording, the regulations leave the final determination to the Governor in Council.

Why it matters#

• It clarifies who may be recognized with the Special Service Medal, including clearer rules for allied personnel, police, civilians and contractors for service from April 29, 2014 onward. That can affect whether some people’s service is eligible for this formal recognition.
• It standardizes how recipients’ personal details are recorded on the medal and how repeat awards are shown on the ribbon. That matters to recipients who want their medals to display their service and to veterans’ groups, museums, and uniformed members who organize medals and displays.