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Saskatchewan Order of Merit

The Saskatchewan Order of Merit (French: Ordre du Mérite de la Saskatchewan) is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Instituted in 1985 by Lieutenant Governor Frederick Johnson, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Grant Devine, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to honour current or former Saskatchewan residents for conspicuous achievements in any field, being thus described in law as the highest honour amongst all others conferred by the Saskatchewan Crown.

Structure and appointment

The Saskatchewan Order of Merit is intended to honour any Canadian citizen currently or formerly resident in Saskatchewan who has demonstrated a high level of individual excellence and achievement in any field, improving the "social, cultural and economic well-being of the province and its residents"; the process of finding such individuals begins with call for nominations put out each spring by the Saskatchewan Honours Advisory Council. There are no limitations on population, but only ten new members may be created each year.

The process of finding qualified individuals begins with call for nominations put out each spring by the Saskatchewan Honours Advisory Council, which then makes its selected recommendations to the lieutenant governor. Posthumous nominations are accepted within one year of the date of death and in 2001 the Provincial Emblems and Honours Act was amended to allow for honorary membership in the order, granted to those who are neither current nor former residents of Saskatchewan; Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, was the first honorary member of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, having been appointed on 24 April 2001. The lieutenant governor, who is ex officio a member and the Chancellor of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit and remains a member following his or her departure from viceregal office, then makes all appointments into the fellowship's single grade of membership by letters patent bearing the viceroyal sign-manual and the Great Seal of the province; thereafter, the new Members are entitled to use the post-nominal letters SOM and have their portrait added to the Athabasca Gallery at the Saskatchewan Legislative Building.

Insignia

Upon admission into the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, members are presented with the order's insignia at a ceremony held either at Government House in Regina or at a venue in Saskatoon. According to The Provincial Emblems and Honours Act, which stipulates the design of the order's badges and ribbon and how they are worn, the main emblem of the order is a silver medallion in the form of a six pointed star—an abstract rendition of a western red lilly, the province's official flower. The obverse is coated in white enamel and bears the escutcheon of Her Majesty's Arms in right of Saskatchewan within a circular ribbon that displays the provincial motto—Multis E Gentibus Vires (From many peoples strength)—all topped by a St. Edward's Crown symbolizing the Canadian monarch's role as the fount of honour. This medallion is hung from a ribbon with a green-gold-green, vertical striped pattern, at the collar for men, and on a bow pinned at the left chest for women. Members will also receive for wear on casual clothing a lapel pin in the form of a stylized western red lily bearing at St. Edward's Crown.

Inductees

The following are some notable appointees of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit:

Freda Ahenakew , author and academic, appointed 2005
John Hall Archer , librarian and historian, appointed 1987
Don Atchison SOM, Mayor of Saskatoon, appointed 2019
Lorne Allan Babiuk , immunologist, molecular virologist, and vaccinologist, appointed 2003
Marcel Alter Baltzan , physician and nephrologist, appointed 1999
Lloyd Ingram Barber , Chancellor of the University of Regina, appointed 1995
Byrna Barclay , author, appointed 2004
Edward Dmytro Bayda , Chief Justice of Saskatchewan, appointed 2008
Bruce W. Beatty, graphic designer, posthumously appointed 2011
Allan Emrys Blakeney , Premier of Saskatchewan, appointed 2000
Elizabeth Winifred Brewster , poet and academic, appointed 2008
Sharon Butala , writer and conservationist, appointed 2009
Angus Daniel Campbell , founder of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association, appointed 1996
Maria Campbell , author, playwright, broadcaster, filmmaker, appointed 2005
Roger Colenso Carter , Dean, University of Saskatchewan College of Law, appointed 1998
Edward Milton Culliton , Chief Justice of Saskatchewan, appointed 1988
Donald Grant Devine, Premier of Saskatchewan, appointed 2009
Thomas Clement Douglas , Premier of Saskatchewan, appointed 1985
Joseph Fafard , sculpture artist, appointed 2002
Walter Henry Farquharson , Moderator of the United Church of Canada, appointed 2007
David Leon Kaplan , professor, performer, and conductor, appointed 2006
Dorothy Knowles , landscape artist, appointed 1987.
John Victor Hicks , poet, appointed 1992
Frederick W. Hill , appointed 1999, businessman
Gordon MacMurchy , politician, appointed 1999
Peggy McKercher , Chancellor of the University of Saskatchewan, appointed 2001
Kenneth Alexander Mitchell , actor, appointed 2001
Robert Joseph Ogle , Roman Catholic priest, broadcaster, and politician, appointed 1995
Thelma Pepper , artist, appointed 2018
William Perehudoff , artist, appointed 1994
Elizabeth Raum, oboist and composer, appointed 2010
Edward Rawlinson , broadcaster, appointed 1989
Garnet "Sam" Richardson , Curler, appointed 2005
Roy John Romanow , Premier of Saskatchewan, appointed 2003
Allen Sapp , artist, appointed 1985
Sandra Marie Schmirler , Olympic athlete, posthumously appointed 2000
Morris Cyril Shumiatcher , civil rights lawyer, appointed 1996
John William Tranter Spinks , appointed 1996
Savella Stechishin , home economist and writer, appointed 1998
Anne Szumigalski , poet, appointed 1989
Guy Clarence Vanderhaeghe , author, appointed 2003
Charles III, King of Canada, appointed 2001
Ernest Walker , archaeologist and academic, appointed 2001
Pamela Wallin , television journalist and diplomat, appointed 1999
James Vernon Weisgerber , prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, appointed 2005
Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh , member of the Canadian Royal Family, appointed 2005
Stephen Worobetz , Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, appointed 1999
Clifford Emerson Wright , Mayor of Saskatoon, appointed 1999
Sylvia Fedoruk, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, appointed 1986