Ontario. Ministry of Citizenship (1987-1995). Honours and Awards Unit

• Honours and Awards Unit

• Ontario. Awards and Resources Unit

• Ontario Honours and Awards Secretariat

In 1987, the Awards and Resources Unit was created within the Citizenship Development Branch of the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship. In 1990, the Unit became known as the Awards and Resources Section. The name of the section was changed in 1991 to the Ontario Honours and Awards Secretariat after assuming the functions transferred to it by the Office of Protocol of the Ontario Ministry of Intergovernmental Affairs. In 1992 it became known as the Ontario Honours and Awards Section and, after 1994, the Honours and Awards Unit.

In 1995, the unit moved from the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Citizenship to the Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation as part of the Citizenship Division. In 2001, it moved back to the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Citizenship and remained within the Citizenship Division until 2003.

In 2003, the Ministry of Citizenship was reorganized into the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration. In 2004, the Honours and Awards Unit became the Ontario Honours and Awards Secretariat. By this time, the Secretariat administered responsibility for fifteen award programs including Orders, Medals, and Decorations as well as special commemorative functions. From formal award presentations in the Legislative Assembly to community-based ceremonies across the province, the Secretariat served to recognize and promote volunteerism and the accomplishments of Ontarians. The Secretariat is also responsible for policy development and the implementation of programs to support the voluntary sector and volunteers.

At its outset, the Honours and Awards Unit administered eight major provincial awards, including: The Order of Ontario, which acknowledges individual achievements and excellence; the Medal for Police Bravery; the Medal for Firefighter's Bravery; the Ontario medal for Good Citizenship, which recognizes exceptional examples of voluntarism and community service; awards for voluntarism as they relate to the Ministry, including the Volunteer Service Awards for length of service and the Outstanding Achievement Awards for precedent setting examples of voluntarism; the Amethyst Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Ontario Public Service, and the Lincoln M. Alexander Anti-Racism Award which recognizes Ontarians who have demonstrated exemplary leadership in eliminating racism. The Ontario Honours and Awards Section also co-ordinates a series of special events at Queen's Park, including the annual Canada Day celebrations, and a special session of Citizenship Court.

RAD: Rules for Archival Description, 2nd edn (2008)

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

Government of Ontario Telephone Directories.

Annual Reports of the Ministry of Citizenship, 1987/88 to 91/92.

Not in Canadiana Name Authorities, 1996-12-24

Archivist(s):
Bob Krawczyk, Robert Anger