In 1966, a project to create a national honour for Canadians was
begun. The first recipients of the Order of Canada were announced a
year later, and in the nearly forty years since, the Order has
become a symbol familiar to, and respected by, people from across
the country.
The spirit that motivates the Order of Canada - celebration,
inclusion, and democracy - was born of the memories of Canada''s
earlier experience with honours. From initial distrust and
misunderstanding to the awakening of a national identity, the
development of the Order reflects the relationship Canadians have
with their country, their government, their culture, and their
heroes. The Order itself is a product of national identity,
politics, and history, reflected by the significance of its
recipients'' accomplishments. Indeed, the Order''s history is as
fascinating as the more than 4000 Canadians who have received
it.
This first book-length history of the Order of Canada - and
first major work on Canadian honours - by Christopher McCreery is a
celebration of the Order and a close examination of its unique
design and various early incarnations. McCreery provides both a
history of the Order''s beginnings and a more general overview of
trends in Canadian honours. Extensively illustrated with
never-before-published photographs, The Order of Canada: Its
Origins, History, and Developments pays tribute to the
individuals who felt the need for a system of recognition for
Canadians.