Order of Yukon

The Order of Yukon (French: Ordre du Yukon) is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian territory of Yukon. Instituted in 2018, with its first members to be inducted in 2020, it is the highest honour which can be bestowed by the Government of Yukon. It is intended to honour current and former residents of the territory.

Order of Yukon
Awarded by the

Commissioner of Yukon
TypeTerritorial order
EligibilityAll current and former residents of the territory who are not elected representatives in government
Awarded forSignificant contributions to the advancement of Yukon society.
StatusCurrently constituted
ChancellorAngélique Bernard
GradesMember
Post-nominalsOY
Statistics
First inductionJanuary 1, 2020
Total inductees20
Precedence
Next (higher)Order of the Northwest Territories
Next (lower)Star of Military Valour

Creation and history

Prior the creation of the Order of Yukon, an unofficial order, the Order of Polaris, was created in 1973 largely to celebrate members of Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame but was not part of the Canadian honours system. When the Order of the Northwest Territories was created in 2015, Yukon remained the only province or territory in Canada without a domestic order.

The Order of Yukon was first proposed in 2016, following public consultation.[1] The order was created by the passage of the Order of Yukon Act in 2018. The award is modelled on the orders of the Canadian provinces. Inductees are entitled to use the postnominal letters OY.[2]

The call for nominations was first announced in late May 2019 with the first ceremony set for New Year's Day for 2020.[3] The first 10 recipients were named ahead of the ceremony on December 2, 2019.[4][5]

Eligibility and advisory committee

Potential members are recommended to the Chancellor by an advisory council consisting of the Speaker of the Yukon Legislative Assembly, the Chief Justice of the Yukon Supreme Court, Secretary of the Executive Council of Yukon, the president of Yukon College, two individuals chosen by the chancellor, and one individual chosen by the Council of Yukon First Nations.

Although the Commissioner of the territory bestows the award, he or she is an ex officio member as the order's chancellor.

Members
Chancellors/Commissioners
2019
2020[6]

References
  1. Blewett, Taylor (January 3, 2018). "Orders of Yukon to be few and far between". Whitehorse Daily Star. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  2. "Order of Yukon Act" (PDF). gov.yk.ca. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  3. "Nominate an exceptional Yukoner for the Order of Yukon". Yukon Territorial Government. May 30, 2019.
  4. "First batch of recipients named for Order of Yukon". CBC News. December 2, 2019.
  5. "Commissioner names first recipients of the Order of Yukon". Whitehorse Daily Star. December 2, 2019.
  6. "Meet this year's inductees to the Order of Yukon". CBC News. December 3, 2020.
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