1. What is the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador?      top
The Order of Newfoundland and Labrador was established and given Royal Assent in 2001. It is the highest honour of the province. The object of the Order is to recognize individuals who have demonstrated excellence and achievement in any field of endeavour benefiting in an outstanding manner Newfoundland and Labrador and its residents. The first investiture took place in 2004.

2. Are all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians eligible for the Order?      top
Yes. The only exceptions are public officials (members of the Senate, House of Commons, House of Assembly, or judges) who may not be nominated while they are in office. Posthumous nominations are not accepted.

3. Can groups of people be nominated?      top
Only individuals may be nominated, not groups, couples, or organizations.

4. Can citizens of other provinces or countries be appointed to the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador?      top
Yes. Citizens of other provinces or countries are eligible for honorary appointments. They may be considered for demonstrating excellence in their field of endeavour that has benefited in an outstanding manner Newfoundland and Labrador and its residents. 

5. What happens when a person becomes a member of the Order?      top
The Lieutenant Governor and the Premier invite the new members to be honoured for their achievements in an investiture ceremony. At a formal ceremony, the Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, as Chancellor of the Order, will present each recipient with an insignia which bears the shield of Newfoundland and Labrador surmounted by the Crown. A member will receive a certificate signed by the Chancellor and sealed with the seal of the Order, as well as a lapel pin. The insignia is suspended from a blue, green, white and gold ribbon. Members of the Order are entitled to use the initials O.N.L. after their names.

The Order of Newfoundland and Labrador is part of a precedence list recognized by Canadian Heritage Honours and Awards which includes the most prestigious honours in the country.

6. What is the symbolism in the Order’s insignia?       top
The insignia of the Order is in the shape of a stylized pitcher plant (sarracenia purpurea Linnaeus), which was declared Newfoundland and Labrador’s floral emblem in 1954. The petals are of the provincial mineral, Labradorite. The pitcher plant is found primarily in bogs and marshland throughout the province. It has a large wine-red flower with a red and gold centre, and hollow pitcher-shaped leaves are attached to the base of the stem. An insectivorous plant, it feeds off insects that become trapped inside when the leaves fill with water.The insignia of the Order has at its centre the Arms of the Province, granted by King Charles I in January 1638. The Arms incorporate some of the most ancient heraldic symbols, the unicorn representing Scotland and the lion representing England.The gold elements of the insignia represent the excellence of achievement that the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador recognizes. The Crown is taken from the official standard of the Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Chancellor of the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador. It symbolizes honour and merit, and recalls Newfoundland and Labrador’s place as a province of Canada, a constitutional monarchy, and as part of the Commonwealth.The colours of the ribbon are those often used in provincial flags and ribbons:

• The green is evocative of the land and our forests.
• The white represents the snow and ice that covers much of our province in winter.
• The blue symbolizes the sea that has shaped so much of our heritage.
• The gold symbolizes the richness of our province and its people.

7. Can the Order be taken away from someone?      top
Yes. The Order of Newfoundland and Labrador Act allows for termination of membership. A recommendation for termination is made to the Lieutenant Governor by the Advisory Council of the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador, chaired by the Chief Justice of Newfoundland and Labrador.

8. Can someone be nominated posthumously?      top
No, only living Newfoundlanders and Labradorians can be nominated.

9. When is the nomination deadline?      top
Nominations may be received at any time during the year.

Nominations for induction into the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador may be made until January 31, 2007 and will remain active for a three-year period.

10. Where can I obtain further information?      top
Further information can be obtained from:
Order of Newfoundland and Labrador
Director of Protocol
P.O. Box 8700, St. John's, NL A1B 4J6
Tel: (709) 729-3670 
Fax: (709) 729-6878
http://www.gov.nl.ca/onl

onl@gov.nl.ca