National Order of Quebec
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Insignia of a grand officer
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Insignia of an officer
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Insignia of a knight
The National Order of Quebec (in French Ordre national du Québec) is an order of merit bestowed by the government of Quebec. It was instituted by the government of Premier René Lévesque, and is one of the most prestigious honours in Quebec and French America. It is partly inspired by the French Legion of Honour.
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Description
The Order was created by law on June 20, 1984, by the National Assembly of Quebec. It is conferred upon men and women born or living in Quebec (but non-Quebeckers can be inducted as well) for their outstanding achievements. The law states that nominations may also be made posthumously. The law also grants the Premier of Quebec the exclusive privilege of nominating non-Quebeckers. Non-Quebeckers inducted into the order are often honoured for a loyal friendship to Quebec, helping to increase its international profile, or for defending the French language.
The insignia are delivered during ceremonies at the Salon Rouge in the Parliament Building, the former home of the Legislative Council of Quebec. Exceptions are made when inductees cannot be present (notably for some non-Quebec 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, is mandated to short-list candidates based on the results of calls for nomination published in daily and weekly newspapers in Quebec. The Council’s suggestions are given to the premier, who submits them to Cabinet for final approval.
Distinctions
The order consists of three classes. In descending order of distinction, they are:
- Grand officer (grand officier),
- Officer (officier),
- Knight (chevalier).
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Recipients
Many people have been inducted into the National Order of Quebec since its inception in 1984. The following are some of the best-known recipients.
Quebec inductees
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, promoted to Grand officer in 1998)
- Félix Leclerc (1985), singer-songwriter
- Jean-Paul Lemieux (1997, posthumously)
- Brian Mulroney (2002), prime minister of Canada
- Gérard Parizeau (1991), insurer, historian
- Jean-Paul Riopelle (Officer in 1988, promoted to Grand officer in 1994), painter
- Gilles Vigneault (Knight in 1985, promoted to Grand officer in 2000), singer-songwriter
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Officer
- Laurent Beaudoin (1990), businessman
- Michel Brault (2003), film-maker
- Solange Chaput-Roland (1985)
- Céline Dion (1998), singer
- Léon Dion (1990), author, teacher, intellectual
- Jean Duceppe (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), astrophysicist
- Maurice Richard (1985), hockey player
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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
Non-Quebec inductees
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Grand officer
- Charles Dutoit (1995), conductor
Officer
- Raymond Barre (1986), prime minister of France
- Jacques Chirac (1987), president of France (mayor of Paris at time of 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
- Gérard Depardieu (2002), actor
- Michel Drucker (2001), television host
- Bernard Pivot (2001), television host
See also
External link
- National Order of Quebec website (http://www.ordre-national.gouv.qc.ca) (in French)