ORDER OF MERIT OF THE POLICE FORCES FACT SHEET
The Order of Merit of the Police Forces honours a career of exceptional service or distinctive merit displayed by the men and women of Canadian police forces, and recognizes their commitment to this country. The primary focus is on exceptional merit, contributions to policing and community development.
The commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Principal Commander of the Order, submits recommendations for appointment to the governor general on behalf of an advisory committee. Nominations for appointment to the Order may be made by submitting the name of a member or employee of a police force to the commanding officer of that police force.
Levels and post-nominals
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the Sovereign of the Order; the governor general is the chancellor and one of the Commanders of the Order. The Principal Commander is the commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Commander – Post-nominals: C.O.M.
Recognizes outstanding meritorious service and demonstrated leadership in duties of great responsibility over an extended period, usually at the national or international level.
Officer – Post-nominals: O.O.M.
Recognizes outstanding meritorious service in duties of responsibility over an extended period, usually at the regional or provincial level.
Member – Post-nominals: M.O.M.
Recognizes exceptional service or performance of duty over an extended period, usually at the local or regional/provincial level.
Insignia Description
The badge of the Order is the same as that of the Order of Military Merit: a blue-enamelled, straight-end cross (four arms, narrow at the centre, wider at the ends) with an annulus in red, surmounted by St. Edward’s Crown. The ribbon is different and consists of three equal bands of blue, gold and blue. The annulus bears the inscription MERIT.MÉRITE.CANADA.
For more information about the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, visit the Honours section of our website at www.gg.ca/honours.
RECIPIENTS (87)
COMMANDER
Chief Constable James Chu, C.O.M.
Vancouver Police Department
OFFICERS
Deputy Chief Roger Chaffin, O.O.M.
Calgary Police Service
Chief Glenn DeCaire, O.O.M.
Hamilton Police Service
Chief Constable Frank Elsner, O.O.M.
Victoria Police Department
Deputy Chief Michael Federico, O.O.M.
Toronto Police Service
A/Commissioner Tracy Hardy, O.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Chief Eric Jolliffe, O.O.M.
York Regional Police
A/Commissioner James Malizia, O.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Deputy Chief Mark Saunders, O.O.M.
Toronto Police Service
MEMBERS
C/Superintendent Michael Armstrong, M.O.M.
Ontario Provincial Police
Superintendent David Attfield, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Sergeant Rob Bernier, M.O.M.
Ottawa Police Service
C/Superintendent Fred Bertucca, M.O.M.
Ontario Provincial Police
Staff Sergeant Ghalib Bhayani, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Inspector Carole Bird, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Chief Richard Bourassa, M.O.M.
Moose Jaw Police Service
Director Serge Boulerice, M.O.M.
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Police Service
Staff Sergeant Jacques Brassard, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Superintendent Donald Campbell, M.O.M.
Toronto Police Service
Superintendent Claude Castonguay, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
A/Commissioner Brenda Butterworth-Carr, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
C/Superintendent Peter Clark, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Chief Superintendent Gaetan Courchesne, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
C/Superintendent Charles Cox, M.O.M.
Ontario Provincial Police
Chief Dale Cox, M.O.M.
Lakeshore Regional Police Service
Superintendent Joanne Crampton, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Superintendent Len DelPino, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Director Helen Dion, M.O.M., C.D.
Repentigny Police Service
Superintendent Brendan FitzPatrick, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Chief Albert Frederick, M.O.M.
Windsor Police Service
Chief Superintendent Wayne Gallant, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Staff Sergeant Darrell Gaudet, M.O.M.
Halifax Regional Police
Detective Inspector Christine Gilpin, M.O.M.
Ontario Provincial Police
Superintendent Graham Gleason, M.O.M.
Ontario Provincial Police
Staff Sergeant Isobel Granger, M.O.M.
Ottawa Police Service
Staff Sergeant John W. Goodman, M.O.M.
Waterloo Regional Police Service
Chief Ian Grant, M.O.M.
Brandon Police Service
Constable Arnold Guerin, M.O.M.
Saanich Police Department
Deputy Chief Tony Harder, M.O.M.
Edmonton Police Service
Superintendent Peter Haring, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Sergeant Philip Hasenpflug, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Staff Sergeant Lindsay Hernden, M.O.M.
Halifax Regional Police
Sergeant Stephen Hicks, M.O.M.
Toronto Police Service
Mr. Gary Holden, M.O.M.
Brantford Police Service
Deputy Chief Constable Steven Ing, M.O.M.
Victoria Police Department
Chief Inspector Daniel Jacques, M.O.M.
Quebec Provincial Police
Chief Darrell Kambeitz, M.O.M.
Camrose Police Service
Detective Inspector Andy Karski, M.O.M.
Ontario Provincial Police
Staff Sergeant Matthew Kavanagh, M.O.M.
Hamilton Police Service
A/Commissioner Louise Lafrance, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Captain Dominique Lafreniere, M.O.M.
Quebec Provincial Police
Superintendent Serge Lalonde, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Chief Inspector Peter Lambrinakos, M.O.M.
Montreal Police Service
Chief John Leontowicz, M.O.M.
LaSalle Police Service
Deputy Chief Constable Del Manak, M.O.M.
Victoria Police Department
Deputy Chief Joseph Matthews, M.O.M.
Niagara Regional Police Service
Deputy Chief Christopher McCord, M.O.M.
Peel Regional Police
Constable Michael McCormack, M.O.M.
Toronto Police Service
Inspector Dwayne McDonald, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Superintendent Robin McElary-Downer, M.O.M.
Ontario Provincial Police
Inspector Dennis McGuffin, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Deputy Chief Antje McNeely, M.O.M.
Kingston Police
A/Commissioner Gilles Moreau, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Staff Sergeant Paul Mulvihill, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Inspector Robert Page, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Deputy Chief John B. Pare, M.O.M.
London Police Service
Chief Paul E. Pedersen, M.O.M.
Greater Sudbury Police Service
A/Commissioner Pierre Perron, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Chief Superintendent Guy Pilon, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Inspector Christopher Renwick, M.O.M.
Ottawa Police Service
Deputy Chief Daniel Rioux, M.O.M.
West Grey Police Service
Staff Sergeant Mike Savage, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Inspector Roderick Shaw, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
A/Commissioner Todd Shean, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
A/Commissioner Dale Sheehan, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Dr. Verona Singer, M.O.M.
Halifax Regional Police
Sergeant Craig Smith, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Superintendent Marlene Snowman, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Sergeant Jeff Swann, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
A/Commissioner Marc Tardif, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Superintendent John Tod, M.O.M.
Ontario Provincial Police
Detective Superintendent Dave Truax, M.O.M.
Ontario Provincial Police
Patrol Sergeant Edith Turner, M.O.M.
Winnipeg Police Service
A/Commissioner Stephen White, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Superintendent Daryl Wiebe, M.O.M.
Vancouver Police Department
Inspector Catherine Yeandle-Slater, M.O.M.
Ontario Provincial Police
Superintendent Andris Zarins, M.O.M.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
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Order of Merit of the Police Forces Investiture Ceremony
Introductory speech by The Governor General of Canada
His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston
The Citadelle, Quebec, Monday, October 5, 2015
I’m honoured to welcome all of you to the Citadelle today.
How fitting that we’re here celebrating police officers in Quebec, considering the history of this place. One of the first Canadian police forces was formed in this city in 1651. However, that gathering of individuals was less of a “force” as we know it today than a group acting as night watchmen for the community.
As time went on, people realized that a volunteer or self-policing approach simply wasn’t the best approach to maintaining law and order. The best way is to recruit talented men and women and to build public trust. You do this by following the rule of law and by working hand in hand with the community. By ensuring your presence is felt and by treating those you serve with respect and with compassion.
In other words, we make our cities safer by putting our trust in people like you. You are officers of the highest quality. You enforce our laws. You keep the peace. You act as community ambassadors. You provide essential services and you do it well.
It’s not easy, the job you do. There was a stark reminder of that just last week, on Police and Peace Officers’ National Memorial Day. Hundreds of police officers, peace officers, families and friends gathered on Parliament Hill to hear the recitation of the Honour Roll-the names of more than 850 officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. Officers who were doing their duty, who were protecting us, who were ensuring the safety of others.
The Memorial wall on Parliament Hill is a potent reminder of the sacrifice police officers make. But what has struck me the most in ceremonies such as this is your humility. You don’t consider yourselves heroes, just regular people doing your job. Yet, there’s nothing ordinary about each of you. Through your sense of duty, your courage and your compassion, you do the extraordinary.
The insignia you will receive shortly represents all that you have accomplished, all that you have done for this country. It’s Canada’s way of saying thank you for your continued dedication to your communities. You have earned our respect and our gratitude. Keep up your good work, helping us create more secure and caring communities.
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