National honours and police promotions

Summary#

On December 27, 2025, the Canada Gazette published an order from the Governor General, acting for THE KING, listing promotions, appointments and honours across Canada’s national honours system. The notice names people receiving police honours, appointments to the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, bravery awards, meritorious service decorations and Mentions in Dispatches; the orders are dated June 11, 2025.

What it does#

• Records promotions and appointments to the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, including a mix of senior police ranks (chiefs, deputy chiefs, assistant commissioners, superintendents, sergeants and constables).
• Announces appointments to the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights, Dames, Commanders, Officers, Members).
• Awards bravery honours:
  • The Cross of Valour was awarded (posthumously) to Patrick L’Abbée Chouinard.
  • Several people received the Star of Courage and the Medal of Bravery.
• Lists recipients of Meritorious Service Decorations in both the military and civil divisions (Cross and Medal levels).
• Publishes names of personnel who have been Mentioned in Dispatches for distinguished service.
• The document lists many individual names for each category; it does not add policy or new rules — it formally records who received each honour and the date the Seal was applied (June 11, 2025).

Who's affected#

• Named recipients: police officers, military members, civilians, and volunteers listed in the notice. These individuals and their families are the direct subjects of the orders.
• Police services and other organizations that employ the named people may note promotions and honours for personnel records and public communications.
• The general public is indirectly affected as these honours recognize actions (for example, bravery or meritorious service) that relate to public safety, emergency response, and community service.
• If it’s unclear who benefits in a particular case, the notice itself simply lists names and honours without explaining follow-up benefits or changes in duties.

Why it matters#

• These entries publicly recognize people for bravery, leadership and service. That recognition can affect careers, reputations and community trust.
• Publishing the names in the Canada Gazette makes the awards official and part of the public record.
• For readers, the notice highlights examples of bravery and service and shows how Canada’s honours system acknowledges actions by police, military and civilians.