Established in 1985, the Saskatchewan Order of Merit is a prestigious recognition of excellence, achievement and contributions to the social, cultural and economic well-being of the province and its residents.
It is the highest honour in the Province.
The Order recognizes individuals who have made their mark in such areas as the arts, agriculture, business and industry, community leadership, the occupations or professions, public service, research, and volunteer service. It takes precedence over all other provincial honours and awards.
Criteria and Selection
Any Canadian citizen who is a current or former long-term resident of Saskatchewan is eligible for nomination for the Saskatchewan Order of Merit and any individual or group may submit nominations. Only individuals may be nominated, not organizations or groups. Posthumous nominations are accepted within one year of the date of death. A call for nominations is made in the spring. From among the public nominations received the Saskatchewan Honours Advisory Council may recommend up to a maximum of ten members of the Order annually.
Insignia
The insignia worn by members of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit include a silver and enamel medal representing a stylized western red lily (the provincial floral emblem), bearing the Crown and Shield of Arms of the province, and suspended from a ribbon of green and gold, the official colours of the province. There is also a lapel pin representing a stylized lily and bearing the Crown. Each member of the Order receives an official certificate in the form of Letters Patent, sealed with the Great Seal of the Province of Saskatchewan. These are presented by the Lieutenant Governor at a formal investiture in the fall, alternating between Regina and Saskatoon. Members of the Order are entitled to use the post-nominal letters S.O.M.
Gallery
The Athabasca Gallery on the second floor of the Legislative Building contains the photographic portraits of the members of the Order and the citations read at their investiture.
National Status
In 1991 the Government of Canada granted recognition to the Saskatchewan Order of Merit and a place in the national sequence of orders, decorations and medals, immediately after national orders and before national decorations. By seniority of its establishment the Saskatchewan Order of Merit ranks after I’Ordre national du Quebec and before the Order of Ontario, Order of British Columbia, Alberta Order of Excellence, Order of Prince Edward Island, Order of Manitoba, Order of New Brunswick, Order of Nova Scotia, and Order of Newfoundland and Labrador.
This means that recipients of Saskatchewan’s Order of Merit are entitled to wear it on national occasions and that recipients of Canada’s national honours who also receive Saskatchewan honours may wear both in the sequence approved by the Governor General.
see
www.gr.gov.sk.ca/protocol/honours/index.htm
http://gr.gov.sk.ca/protocol/Honours/SOM_2004.htm
www.gov.sk.ca/news-archive/2004/10/20-638-attachment.pdf
www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=eeedb1c2-5d96-433f-86e9-ef2e8b17ba6b
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