OTTAWA—His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, will be joining the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, at a ceremony to be held at the Senate on November 24, 2011. This ceremony will recognize the efforts of Canadian military personnel who took part in the NATO mission in Libya.
As governor general, His Excellency also announces the awarding of a Meritorious Service Cross (Military Division) to Lieutenant-General Joseph Jacques Charles Bouchard of the Canadian Forces. This decoration will be presented at the ceremony.
Lieutenant-General Joseph Jacques Charles Bouchard, C.M.M., M.S.C., C.D.
Chicoutimi, Quebec
Meritorious Service Cross (Military Division)
From March to September 2011, Lieutenant-General Bouchard was the commander, Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) Unified Protector. In a complex political environment, he developed a campaign plan that put pressure on the entrenched regime while successfully synchronizing the efforts of multiple nations. Leading an intricate combination of multinational naval and air forces, Lieutenant-General Bouchard brought great credit to Canada with his demonstration of exceptional operational and strategic acumen, which helped to protect the citizens of Libya from harm during this period of civil strife.
For additional information on the Meritorious Service Decorations, please see the attached backgrounder.
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MERITORIOUS SERVICE DECORATIONS BACKGROUNDER
The Meritorious Service Decorations include a military division and a civil division, with two levels each: a medal and a cross. The military division recognizes individuals for their outstanding professionalism, and for bringing honour to the Canadian Forces and to Canada. The civil division recognizes individuals who have performed an exceptional deed or an activity that brought honour to the community or to Canada.
The Meritorious Service Cross (Military Division) recognizes a military deed or activity that has been performed in an outstandingly professional manner, according to a rare high standard that brings considerable benefit or great honour to the Canadian Forces.
The Meritorious Service Medal (Military Division) recognizes a military deed or activity performed in a highly professional manner, according to a very high standard that brings benefit or honour to the Canadian Forces.
These decorations are an important part of the Canadian Honours System, which recognizes excellence. Meritorious Service Decorations honour either a single achievement or an activity over a specified period. The Meritorious Service Decorations are open to both Canadians and non-Canadians.
Anyone may nominate an individual for the civil division of the Meritorious Service Decorations, while military candidates are recommended by the chief of the Defence Staff. Nominations and awards may be made posthumously, but nominations for activities that occurred prior to June 1984, the year in which the honour was first created, are not accepted.
