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The National Order of Quebec (in French Ordre national du Québec) is an order of merit given by the government of Quebec. It was instituted by the government of Premier René Lévesque, and is one of the most prestigious honours of Quebec and French America. It is partly inspired by the French Legion of Honor.
Description
The order was created by law on June 20, 1984, by the Quebec Legislature. It is conferred upon men and women, either Quebec citizens or foreigners, for outstanding achievements in most fields. The law states that nominations can also be made posthumously. The law also grants the premier of Quebec the exclusive privilege of nominating foreigners. Foreigners inducted into the order are often honoured for a loyal friendship to Quebec, helping make Quebec better known and respected on the international stage, or for defending the French language. The insignia are delivered during ceremonies at the Salon Rouge in the Parliament Building, which was the former home of the Legislative Council of Quebec. Exceptions are made when inductees cannot be present (notably for some foreign nominations).
Council
The Council of the National Order of Quebec (Conseil de l'Ordre national du Québec), elected by and amongst the members of the order, has the mandate of publishing favourable notices of advice based on nominations received after public calls published in Quebec newspapers. The notices of the council are given to the premier, who submits them to the Council of Ministers for the final decision.
Distinctions
The order consists of three classes. In descending order of distinction, they are:
- Grand officer (grand officier),
- Officer (officier),
- Knight (chevalier).
Recipients
Many have been inducted into the National Order of Quebec since its birth in 1984. These are some of the most memorable recipients.
National nominations
Grand officer
- Jean Drapeau (1987), mayor of Montreal
- Marcelle Ferron (1992), painter and stained glass artist
- Armand Frappier (1985), researcher
- Gérard Filion (1989), newspaper director
- Paul Gérin-Lajoie (officer in 1987, grand officer in 1998)
- Félix Leclerc (1985), singer-composer
- Jean-Paul Lemieux (1997, posthumously)
- Brian Mulroney (2002), prime minister of Canada
- Gérard Parizeau (1991), insurer, historian
- Jean-Paul Riopelle (officer in 1988, grand officer in 1994), painter
- Gilles Vigneault (knight in 1985, grand officer in 2000), singer-composer
Officer
- Laurent Beaudoin (1990), businessman
- Michel Brault (2003), flim-maker
- Solange Chaput-Roland (1985)
- Céline Dion (1998), singer
- Léon Dion (1990), author, teacher, intellectual
- Jean Ducceppe (1985), actor
- Fernand Dumont (1992), author, intellectual
- Phil Gold (1989), scientist, physician
- Anne Hébert (1985), writer
- Louis Laberge (1988), union leader
- Antonine Maillet (1990), writer, playwright
- Gaston Miron (1996), poet
- Ted Moses (2002), aboriginal chief
- Julie Payette (2000), astronaut
- Lise Payette (2001), politician, writer
- Pierre Perreault (1998), film-maker
- Hubert Reeves (1994), astrophysician
- Maurice Richard (1985), hockey player
Knight
- Denys Arcand (1990), film-maker
- Frédérick Back (1989), animator
- Denise Bombardier (2000), journalist
- Gaétan Boucher (1985), speed skater
- Pierre Bourque (1993), mayor of Montreal
- Jean Coutu (1993), businessman
- Françoise David (1999), social and feminist activist
- Yvon Deschamps (2001), comedian
- Diane Dufresne (2002), singer, painter
- Marc Favreau (1995), actor
- Jean-Pierre Ferland, singer-songwriter
- Madeleine Ferron (1992), writer
- Denise Filiatrault (2000), playwright, actor
- Jacques Godbout (1998), writer, film-maker
- Pauline Julien (1997), singer-songwriter
- Marie-Claire Kirkland Casgrain (1985)
- Jacques Lacoursière (2002), historian
- Guy Laliberté (1997)
- Robert Lepage (1999), playwright, film-maker
- Claude Léveillé (1998), singer-songwriter
- Raymond Lévesque (1997), singer-songwriter
- Édouard Lock (2001), dancer
- Louis Lortie (1998), pianist
- Norman McLaren (1985), animator, film-maker
- Pierre Nadeau (1992), journalist
- Oscar Peterson (1991), jazz musician
- Luc Plamondon (1990), songwriter
- Ghislain Picard (2003), aboriginal activist
- Léa Roback (2000), feminist and socialist activist
- Jean-Louis Roux (1989), actor
- Michel Tremblay (1991), playwright, author
Foreign nominations
Grand officer
Officer
- Raymond Barre (1986), prime minister of France
- Jacques Chirac (1987), president of France (mayor of Paris at nomination)
- Laurent Fabius (1986), prime minister of France
- Alain Juppé (1996), prime minister of France
- Jordi Pujol (1996), president of Catalonia
- Lionel Jospin (1998), prime minister of France
- Alain Peyrefitte (1998), French politician
- Philippe Séguin (2000), president of the French National Assembly
- Jean-Pierre Raffarin (2003), prime minister of France
- Michel Rocard (2000), prime minister of France
- Edmund Stoiber (2003), minister-president of Bavaria
Knight
See also
External link
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