Order of Prince Edward Island

What is the Order of Prince Edward Island?

The Order of Prince Edward Island is a provincial honour - the highest in the province - established to celebrate individual Islanders who make our province a better place to live. Investing someone with the Order acknowledges their achievements in areas such as the arts, agriculture, business and industry, community leadership, the occupations or professions, public service, research, and volunteering. 

Many deserving Islanders are nominated by the public every year from diverse occupations, backgrounds, and communities, and the Order of PEI Advisory Council selects three for recognition each year.

Can I nominate someone for the Order?

Any individual or organization can submit nominations for the Order of Prince Edward Island.

If you know someone who has shown individual excellence or outstanding leadership in the community, or in their chosen profession or occupation, this is your opportunity to have them considered for special recognition. 

Should I nominate someone?

The Order was established as a way of encouraging and acknowledging the outstanding achievements of Islanders. It's a special act of appreciation to nominate someone you believe to be deserving of such an honour.

Who can I nominate for the Order?

Anyone who is a present or former long-term resident of Prince Edward Island and a Canadian citizen is eligible for nomination for the Order of Prince Edward Island, excepting the following:

• members of a Canadian provincial or federal parliament, while they are still in office;
• judges of any court of any province or of Canada, while still holding office as a judge; and
• those who have passed away, unless a nominated person dies after his or her name has  already been submitted by the Order of PEI Advisory Council to the President of Executive Council for investiture in the Order of PEI.

How does the nomination process work?

You gather information to complete a nomination package and submit it to the independent Order of PEI Advisory Council, which begins meeting once the deadline closes. The Advisory Council chooses three recipients and makes final recommendations to the Premier, who forwards those recommendations to the Lieutenant Governor, the Chancellor of the Order of PEI.

The Medal of Merit is presented by the Lieutenant Governor at a formal investiture ceremony held for the recipients by invitation at Government House.

What information do I need for the nomination package?

If you have a deserving Islander in mind whom you'd like the Advisory Council to consider for investiture in the Order of PEI, you'll need to fill out a nomination form. The form is available to fill out online and requires the following information to complete (more details are available on the form's page):

• your contact information (you are the nominator)
• your nominee's contact information
• your reason(s) for nominating the person
• biographical summary for nominee
• three letters of support for your nominee from three different people

Nominations are confidential.

When is the deadline for nominations?

The deadline for nominations each year is the third Wednesday of March. After that date, the Advisory Council begins the process of selection. Nominations received after the deadline each year will be kept and considered for the following year's award.

What does the recipient receive?

The Insignia of the Order is the Prince Edward Island Medal of Merit, an enameled medallion the recipient wears around their neck on a ribbon of rust green, and white. The Medal has the shield of arms of the province against a background of gold and blue, and comes with a smaller lapel pin and a miniature medal to wear on less formal occasions.

Recipients also receive an official certificate and are entitled to use the letters O.P.E.I. after their name.