The National Order of Quebec (l’Ordre national du Québec in French) is a civilian honor for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec. It was instituted in 1984 and administered by the Governor-in-Council to current or former Quebec residents for conspicuous achievements in any field. The Order is the highest honor in Quebec.
The order contains three grades, each with accordant post-nominal letters:
- Grand Officer (grand officier/grande officières) (GOQ)
- Officer (officier/officières) (OQ)
- Knight (chevalier/chevalière) (CQ)
The National Order of Quebec Design
Members are presented with various insignia of the organization: a medallion, miniature, and button. They were all designed by Madeleine Dansereau, who was inspired by the heraldic elements of the provincial flag (the colors blue and white for the ribbon and the fleur-de-lis).
The badge of a Grand Officer is two 18kt gold plates in the shape of a cross. They are formed by two 60 millimeters (2.4 in) by 40 millimeters (1.6 in) arms, symmetrically superimposed atop one another. The obverse is a high-polish, rusticated surface with a white enamel fleur-de-lis on the lower left corner. On the reverse is inscribed the order’s motto—Honneur au peuple du Québec (homage to the people of Quebec) and a serial number.
The badge for Officers is nearly identical but made of arms 50 millimeters (2.0 in) long by 25 millimeters (0.98 in) wide. Knights have a brushed silver medallion with a 40 millimeters (1.6 in) diameter. Each member also receives miniature versions of their insignia.
