Charles Curley, Chair of the Order of PEI Advisory Council, announced today that nominations for the Order of Prince Edward Island are now being received by the Council. The nomination deadline for Prince Edward Island’s highest honour is March 27, 2015.
The Order of Prince Edward Island was established in 1996 to recognize the Island’s most outstanding citizens. Since its inception, 65 Islanders have been awarded the medal and inducted into the Order.
In 2014, membership in the Order was expanded to include Mr. Wayne Hambly, CM, OPEI of Charlottetown, Mr. Wade MacLauchlan, CM, OPEI of West Covehead and Ms. Heather Moyse, OPEI of Summerside.
Nominees must be living Canadian citizens, who are current or former long-term residents of the Island. The honour may not be awarded to sitting members of any Provincial Legislature, nor to Islanders in the Senate or House of Commons, or sitting as judges. The Order is not conferred posthumously, except when a nominee passes away between the time of his/her nomination is confirmed and the medal is awarded.
Members of the Order have come from many different backgrounds on the Island, including: medicine, arts, politics, community service and religion. All recipients share a lifetime of effort and accomplishment that truly has been remarkable.
“This is a very special award for very deserving Islanders,” says Mr. Curley, who chairs the Advisory Council that reviews the nominations for the Order Of Prince Edward Island. “This award is an honour that is bestowed by the people of Prince Edward Island upon one of their fellow citizens. Nominations come from people from all over the Island, people like you and me who see excellence in a friend, neighbour or colleague and believes it should to be recognized by the Province.”
Curley says that the Order of PEI has intentionally broad criteria. “The medals are awarded to recognize individual excellence, achievement and outstanding contributions to the social, cultural or economic well-being of Prince Edward Island and its residents. On merit, many, many Islanders are eligible for the honour; however, there are usually only three chosen from the numerous applications received each year.”
With so many nominations Island wide, the Advisory Council has the difficult task of narrowing down to those who they feel are the most deserving. Curley points out that while a nomination may not be successful in a given year, nominators are encouraged to resubmit nominations for the same person in any year following.
Recipients are awarded the honour by the Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island, as Chancellor of the Order, at a special ceremony at Government House in October. This event is attended by the Premier, members of the Advisory Council, family and friends of the honourees.
Curley feels strongly about the importance of the Order of Prince Edward Island. “In a world where awards are often viewed as ‘elitist,’ this is an honour that comes from friends and neighbours. It’s important for the people of this Island to acknowledge that there are outstanding people living, working, and making important contributions to our Island and that they receive the recognition they richly deserve.”
Individuals and organizations can receive more information on nominating deserving citizens to the Order by going online at www.gov.pe.ca/opei, by picking up nomination forms at any Access PEI outlet, or by contacting the Secretary of the Advisory Council, Charles MacKay, at chmackay@assembly.pe.ca, tel - (902) 368-5970.