The Alberta Order of Excellence (or Ordre d’excellence de l’Alberta in French) is a civilian honor for merit in the Canadian province of Alberta. The Order was instituted in 1979 and is intended to honor current or former Alberta residents for conspicuous achievements in any field. it’s described as the highest honor amongst all others conferred by the Canadian Crown in right of Alberta.
Canadian citizenship is a requirement and only 10 people may be inducted each year. The process of finding qualified individuals begins with submissions from the public to the Council of the Alberta Order of Excellence.
The Alberta Order of Excellence Design
Members of the Order are presented with an insignia. The main emblem of the Alberta Order of Excellence is a 51 millimeters (2.0 in) wide gold cross pattée medallion with the equidistant arms consisting of a transparent blue enamel over gold patterned to resemble prairie wheat.
One the obverse, the cross is layered between a burnished gold disk bearing roses and rose leaves, and another roundel with the coat of arms of Alberta on a red enamel background, surrounded by a white circle bearing the inscription “The Alberta Order of Excellence”. On the reverse is a maple leaf supported by a sheaf of wheat.
The ribbon is patterned with vertical stripes in blue, burgundy, white, and gold, reflecting the colors of the provincial coat of arms. Men wear the medallion suspended from the ribbon at the collar, and women on a ribbon bow at the left chest.
