About the honour
Last updated on January 26, 2024Established on April 21, 1989, the Order of British Columbia represents the highest form of recognition the Province can extend to its citizens. Since its inception, British Columbians have been appointed to the Order from all regions of the province, and in numbers generally proportionate to a region's population.
On this page:
- Advisory Council
- Honouring the recipients
- Elements of the insignia
- Termination policy
- Promotional resources
Advisory Council
Each year, honourees are selected from hundreds of nominations submitted by people across the province and around the world.
Appointments to the Order are made by the Lieutenant Governor in Council (Cabinet), on the recommendation of the Advisory Council. The Lieutenant Governor is the Chancellor.
Members of the council include:
- The Chief Justice of British Columbia, Chairperson
- The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
- The President, in turn, of British Columbia’s Public Universities, for a two-year term
- The President of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities
- The Deputy Minister, Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat
- Two past recipients of the Order
Honouring the recipients
Order of British Columbia recipients attend a special ceremony at Government House in Victoria, B.C. where they are presented with an insignia and are formally invested into the Order. Between 13 to 16 people are appointed to the Order each year.
New members of the Order also receive a:
- Lapel pin
- Certificate of Appointment
Members are entitled to use the post-nominal letters O.B.C. after their names.
Elements of the insignia
The insignia of the Order of British Columbia consists of a stylistic dogwood, the floral emblem of British Columbia. The insignia is part of a medal which also features a crowned shield of arms. It is worn with a green, gold, white and blue ribbon. The member’s name and year of investiture are engraved on the back of the medal.
Learn more about the wearing of insignia (PDF).
To have your miniature mounted on a medal bar, the Honours and Awards Secretariat recommends the following businesses:
Canex
1343 Woodway Road
Victoria, BC V9A 7K6
tel: 250-388-6428
Top Line Undress Ribbon Bars
198 Greenlees Drive
Kingston, ON K7K 6P7
tel: 613-329-2869
info@topline-ribbons.ca
Bob Underhill
304 - 678 W Queens Road
North Vancouver, BC V7N 2L3
tel: 604-988-4844
runder@telus.net
Les Enterprises Denis Ringuette
3 - 36 Rue de Varennes
Gatineau, QC J8T OB6
tel: 819-568-6669 ext. 212
mathieu@denisringuette.com
Termination policy
For information on the rules and procedure for the termination of appointments to the Order of British Columbia, please refer to this document (PDF). For information on past terminations of appointments, please see here.