Regulations Governing the Award of the
Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal
INTRODUCTION
Whether their work is highly visible or rarely carried out in the public eye, the men and women of our protective services face daily exposure to the potential dangers inherent to their professions. By performing their vital duties in an exemplary manner, they improve the quality of our lives and our sense of security.
The Exemplary Service Medals recognize those persons in high-risk professions who have dedicated themselves to preserving Canada’s public safety through long and outstanding service. The awards are national in scope and are part of the Canadian honours system. These and other similar medals instituted by the sovereign are awarded in recognition of service rendered to the country. They include:
Long Service and Good Conduct Medals
R.C.M.P. Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (1934)
Canadian Forces Decoration (C.D.) (1953)
Exemplary Service Medals
Police Exemplary Service Medal (1983)
Corrections Exemplary Service Medal (1984)
Fire Services Exemplary Service Medal (1985)
Canadian Coast Guard Exemplary Service Medal (1991)
Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal (1994)
Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal (2004)
To promote consistency throughout the family of exemplary service medals, no criteria should be added or removed from their respective regulations.
Duplication of awards contravenes Canadian honours policy. Awarding more than one of the sovereign’s long service medals for concurrent service constitutes duplicate recognition. To uphold this principle, nominators should consider whether the candidate has received previous awards for the same period of service or if the candidate is potentially eligible for one of the other awards listed on the preceding page. For candidates whose nominations are complicated by combinations of service, i.e. a peace officer who is also a firefighter, the candidate’s main occupation usually determines which award is appropriate.The medals may be awarded posthumously. The award of exemplary service medals does not confer the right to use post-nominal letters.
The exemplary service medals are administered by the Chancellery of Honours, a branch of the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General. Duly formed committees advise the governor general concerning the award of each medal. Awards are made, on behalf of the sovereign, by instrument signed by the governor general and the names of the recipients are recorded at the Chancellery of Honours. Engraved medals and certificates of award are forwarded to the nominating authority for formal presentation on behalf of the governor general. Presentations should be made at the highest convenient level; however, in keeping with the original intent of the Medal that each recipient receives his or her well-deserved award, informal ceremonies may be more appropriate in certain circumstances.
Further information on Exemplary Service Medals or any aspect of national honours is available at www.gg.ca or by contacting:
The Chancellery of Honours
Rideau Hall
Ottawa ON K1A OA1
1-800-465-6890 or 613-993-8200