The Canadian Forces’ Decoration – Supplied Photo
The Canadian Forces’ Decoration, commonly known as the CD, is the most ubiquitous of all Canadian honours. The familiar ten-sided golden decoration with its distinctive red ribbon bearing three thin white stripes has now recognized long serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) for 75 years.
Whether they are serving on missions abroad, defending our sovereignty at home, helping their fellow citizens in need or performing a myriad other duties, Canada asks a lot of its military personnel, who consistently perform their duty with professionalism, determination and courage. The CD is the symbol of the gratitude from Crown and country for years of dedicated service in our country’s uniform, it acknowledges the challenges and difficulties that are inherent and unique to military life.
Created with the approval of King George on 15 December 1949, the Decoration was quite a revolutionary award when it was devised. The CD replaced nine different long service awards, each with different criteria for various groups, and was intended to recognize military long service and good conduct with a common award for all ranks, in all services, in all components; it was unprecedented in the Commonwealth at the time.
The CD has consistently recognized 12 years of military service, provided the candidate has a record of good conduct, and clasps aware awarded for each additional period of 10 years of eligible service.
The original Decoration bore the effigy of its creator, King George . For the last seven decades, it bore the effigy of Queen Elizabeth . And now, as we mark the 75th anniversary of the CD, its third version is being introduced, bearing the effigy of His Majesty King Charles , King and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.
The new effigy of The King was designed by Cathy Bursey-Sabourin, MVO, Fraser Herald at the Canadian Heraldic Authority and was sculpted by Alex Tirabasso, engraver at the Royal Canadian Mint.
To mark this significant milestone in the Decoration’s history, a special investiture ceremony took place on 12 December 2024 at Cartier Square Drill Hall during which the Chief Military Personnel, Lieutenant-General Lise Bourgon, unveiled the new design and presented the very first CDs bearing The King’s effigy.
Following this inaugural presentation, the new version of the CD will now be presented throughout for CAF for those who became eligible during The King’s Reign and whose application reached the Directorate of Honours and Recognition from 1 December 2024 onwards. Previously awarded CDs remain unchanged, those who qualified for the CD during The Late Queen’s Reign will continue to receive the Elizabeth version in the future and any replacement of that decoration will be replaced by the same type.
For more information on the history of the CD, consult The Canadian Forces Decorations.
LONG LIVE THE KING!
