Who is eligible to receive the Order of B.C.?
Any British Columbian (or former long-term resident) who has demonstrated outstanding achievement, excellence or distinction in any field. Community leadership, business, labour, industry, volunteer service, research, culture, the arts, sports… the possibilities are nearly endless. There are a couple of exceptions to appointments (see section 17.0 of the Provincial Symbols and Honours Act). Federal, provincial or municipal elected representatives are not eligible for appointment to the Order while they remain in office. Chiefs or other members of a governing body of an indigenous nation are not prohibited from appointment while in office under section 17 of the legislation.
Posthumous appointments don’t happen unless the advisory council has recommended the Order before the person’s death.
Nominations for acts of bravery are not eligible – for links to other Awards and Recognition, please refer to the same heading under the “Resource” section at right.
Nominate Someone for the Order of British Columbia
To nominate a British Columbian for the Order of B.C., you can use our new online nomination process or you can complete the PDF form and submit it electronically or by mail to the Secretariat.
Each nomination must include the following:
- A completed and signed nomination form
- A brief summary indicating the reason you believe your nominee is a worthy candidate (250 words maximum)
- A detailed description of the nominee and his/her achievements including background/history of the nominee (500 words maximum)
- A minimum of two (2) signed testimonials from two (2) separate individuals, other than the nominator, who have direct knowledge of the value and impact of the nominee’s achievement and who support the nomination. The letters must be signed by the testimonial writer and include his/her contact information (address, telephone number and email). An electronic signature or scanned copy of the scanned letters will be accepted.
- Additional material such as supplementary testimonials, publications, media stories, etc., is optional.
Please note: All materials submitted become part of the nomination and thus become the property of the Honours and Awards Secretariat and will not be returned. Do not send originals of important or official documents or photographs, as they will not be returned. All materials we receive will be kept confidential but my be disclosed to the nominee, if requested. We reserve the right to limit the amount of supporting documentation accepted.
The completed Nomination Form, letters of support and any supporting materials must be received by the first Friday in March to be considered in the current calendar year. Nominations received after this will be included in the selection process for the next calendar year. **Please note: if you submit a nomination electronically you do not need to submit a hard copy version by mail. The preference is for electronic submissions.
By e-mail (preferred): bchonoursandawards@gov.bc.ca
By regular mail:
Honours and Awards Secretariat
P.O. Box 9422 STN PROV GOVT
Victoria, British Columbia V8W 9V1
By courier:
Honours and Awards Secretariat
2nd Floor, 620 Superior Street
Victoria, British Columbia V8V 1V2
We may contact you to ask for more information on the person you nominate. Aside from that, you won’t hear anything. This ensures the process remains confidential.
We have a lot of terrific people in B.C., and each year, there are many more nominees than there are places for Order of B.C. honourees. If we don’t choose your nominee, you can ask us to carry the file forward for the next year.
To ensure nominations are current, a nomination can only be carried forward for three years unless new material is submitted.
How do I write a compelling nomination?
In order for your nomination to stand out against the many others we receive, you must explain and include evidence and clear examples of what makes your nominee so exceptional. For your reference, attached is a guide on “How to Write a Compelling Nomination.”
