View source for Order of British Columbia

{{Short description|Civilian honour for merit in Canada}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{Infobox order
| title           = Order of British Columbia
| image           = File:BritishColumbiaOrder.svg
| caption         = Insignia of the Order of British Columbia
| awarded_by      = the [[lieutenant governor of British Columbia]]<br/>[[File:Badge of the Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia.svg|50px]]
| type            = [[Order of merit]] ([[Orders, decorations, and medals of the Canadian provinces|provincial]])
| motto           =
| day             =
| eligibility     = All living persons except politicians while in office
| for             = Service with the greatest distinction in any field benefiting the people of British Columbia or elsewhere
| status          = Currently constituted
| grades          = Member
| post-nominals   = OBC
| established     = 21 April 1989
| founder         = [[David Lam]]
| first_induction =
| last_induction  =
| total           = {{#property:P2124|from=Q687477}}{{wikidata|reference|P2124|eid=Q687477}}
| recipients      =
| individual      =
| higher          = [[Order of Ontario]]
| lower           = [[Alberta Order of Excellence]]
| image2          = [[Image:Order British Columbia ribbon bar.svg|150px]]
| caption2        = [[Ribbon bar]] of the order
|head_title=Chancellor|head=[[Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia]]
}}
The '''Order of British Columbia'''{{efn|{{langx|fr|Ordre de la Colombie-Britannique}}}} is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of [[British Columbia]]. Instituted in 1989 by [[Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia|Lieutenant Governor]] [[David Lam (real estate entrepreneur)|David Lam]], on the [[Advice (constitutional)|advice]] of the [[Executive Council of British Columbia|Cabinet]] under Premier [[Bill Vander Zalm]],<ref name=CE>{{Cite book| last=Bingham| first=Russell| contribution=Culture > Awards > Order of British Columbia| title=The Canadian Encyclopedia| editor-last=Marsh| editor-first=James H.| place=Toronto| publisher=Historica Foundation of Canada| url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/order-of-british-columbia/| access-date=21 August 2009}}</ref> the order is administered by the [[Queen-in-Council|Governor-in-Council]] and is intended to honour current or former British Columbia residents for conspicuous achievements in any field,<ref name=CE /><ref>{{Cite book| last=Elizabeth II| author-link=Elizabeth II| year=1989| contribution=Provincial Symbols and Honours Act| contribution-url=http://www.protocol.gov.bc.ca/protocol/prgs/symbols/symbols_and_honours_act.htm#part2| editor-last=Protocol and Events Branch, Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat| title=Provincial Symbols| location=Victoria| publisher=Queen's Printer for British Columbia| id=17.1| url=http://www.protocol.gov.bc.ca/default.htm| access-date=21 August 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806003531/http://www.protocol.gov.bc.ca/default.htm| archive-date=6 August 2009| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=OBC>{{cite web| url=http://www.protocol.gov.bc.ca/protocol/prgs/obc/obc.htm| last=Protocol and Events Branch, Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat| title=Order of British Columbia| publisher=Queen's Printer for British Columbia| access-date=21 August 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090828111030/http://www.protocol.gov.bc.ca/protocol/prgs/obc/obc.htm| archive-date=28 August 2009| url-status=dead}}</ref> being thus described as the highest honour amongst all others conferred by the [[Monarchy in British Columbia|British Columbia Crown]].<ref name=OBC />

==Structure and appointment==
The Order of British Columbia, which evolved out of and replaced the earlier [[Order of the Dogwood]], is intended to honour any current or former longtime resident of [[British Columbia]] who has demonstrated a high level of individual excellence and achievement in any field, demonstrating the "greatest distinction and excell[ence] in any field of endeavour benefiting the people of the Province or elsewhere."<ref name=OBC /> Only those who are elected or appointed members of a governmental body are ineligible as long as they hold office.<ref name=OBC /> There are no limits on how many can belong to the order or be inducted at one time.

The process of finding qualified individuals begins with submissions from the public to the Order of British Columbia's advisory council, which consists of the [[British Columbia Court of Appeal#Current Justices|Chief Justice of British Columbia]], who serves as the Chair; the [[Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia|Speaker of the Legislative Assembly]]; a president, in turn, of one of [[List of universities in Canada#British Columbia|British Columbia's public universities]], for a two-year term; the President of the Union of [[List of municipalities in British Columbia|British Columbia Municipalities]]; the Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental Relations; and two Members of the order.<ref>{{Harvnb| Elizabeth II| 1989| loc=14}}</ref> This committee then meets once yearly to make its selected recommendations to the lieutenant governor. Posthumous nominations are not accepted, though an individual who dies after his or her name was submitted to the advisory council can still be retroactively made a Member of the Order of British Columbia.<ref>{{Harvnb| Elizabeth II| 1989| loc=17.3}}</ref> The lieutenant governor, ''[[List of Latin phrases: E#ex officio|ex officio]]'' a Member and the Chancellor of the Order of British Columbia,<ref>{{Harvnb| Elizabeth II| 1989| loc=13.2}}</ref> then makes all appointments into the fellowship's single grade of membership by an [[Order in Council]] that bears the [[Royal sign-manual|viceroyal sign-manual]] and the Great Seal of the province; thereafter, the new Members are entitled to use the [[post-nominal letters]] ''OBC''.<ref>{{Harvnb| Elizabeth II| 1989| loc=18.1}}</ref>

==Insignia==
[[File:Order of British Columbia 1.jpg|thumb|left|The full-size insignia of the Order of British Columbia, with miniature medal and [[lapel pin]]]]
[[File:Kim Campbell.jpg|thumb|right|Former prime minister [[Kim Campbell]] wearing the insignia of the Order of British Columbia on a neck ribbon]]
[[File:Steven Point BC.jpg|thumb|right|[[Steven Point]], Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia from 2007 to 2012, wearing the insignia of the Order of British Columbia at centre top (which is actually in the incorrect [[Canadian order of precedence (decorations and medals)|order of precedence]])]]
Upon admission into the Order of British Columbia, in a ceremony held at [[Government House (British Columbia)|Government House]] in [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]], new Members are presented with the order's insignia. The main badge consists of a gold medallion in the form of a stylized flower of the [[Pacific Dogwood]]—the official provincial flower—with the obverse in white [[Vitreous enamel|enamel]] with gold edging, and bearing at its centre the [[Escutcheon (heraldry)|escutcheon]] of the [[Coat of arms of British Columbia|arms of British Columbia]], all surmounted by a [[St. Edward's Crown]] symbolizing the [[Monarchy of Canada|Canadian monarch]]'s role as the [[fount of honour]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/hon/nat-honour-honneur/index-eng.htm| last=Royal Canadian Mounted Police| title=Honours and Recognition Programs > Canadian National Honours| publisher=[[Queen's Printer for Canada]]| access-date=20 May 2009| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090323114038/http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/hon/nat-honour-honneur/index-eng.htm| archive-date=23 March 2009| df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb| Elizabeth II| 1989| loc=18.2.a}}</ref> The ribbon is patterned with vertical stripes in green, white, blue, and gold, reflecting the colours within the provincial coat of arms; men wear the medallion suspended from this ribbon at the collar, while women carry theirs on a ribbon bow at the left chest. Members will also receive for wear on casual clothing a [[lapel pin]], appearing as a smaller enamel Dogwood flower capped by a crown.<ref>{{Harvnb| Elizabeth II| 1989| loc=18.2.b}}</ref>

==Inductees==
{{Main category|Members of the Order of British Columbia}}
This is a partial list of notable members of the Order of British Columbia:

* [[Bryan Adams|Bryan Guy Adams]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=[[Order of Canada|OC]] OBC}}, [[Grammy Award]] winning musician and photographer, appointed 1990
* [[Unity Bainbridge]], artist and poet, appointed 1993
* [[Michael Conway Baker]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=OBC}}, composer, appointed 1997
* [[Geoffrey Ballard (businessman)|Geoffrey Ballard]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=[[Order of Canada|CM]] OBC}}, [[geophysics|geophysicist]] and businessman, appointed 2003
* [[Dave Barrett]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=OBC}}, BC's first NDP Premier, appointed 2012
* Brigadier [[Henry Pybus Bell-Irving]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=[[Order of Canada|OC]] [[Distinguished Service Order|DSO]] [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] OBC [[Canadian Efficiency Decoration|ED]] [[Canadian Forces' Decoration|CD]]}}, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, appointed 1990
*[[Leon Bibb (musician)|Leon Bibb]], musician and actor, appointed 2009
* [[Peter M. Brown]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=OBC}}, financier, appointed 2003
* [[Frank Arthur Calder]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=[[Order of Canada|OC]] OBC}}, first [[Aboriginal peoples in Canada|aboriginal Canadian]] elected to any Canadian legislature, appointed 2004
* [[Gordon Campbell (Canadian politician)|Gordon Campbell]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=OBC}}, three-term [[Premier of British Columbia]], appointed 2011
* [[Raffi (musician)|Raffi Cavoukian]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=[[Order of Canada|CM]] OBC}}, children's entertainer, appointed 2001
* [[Shushma Datt]], Radio and television broadcaster, appointed 1992<ref>{{Cite web |title=1992 Shushma Datt – Burnaby : Order of BC |url=https://orderofbc.gov.bc.ca/members/obc-1992/shushma-datt/ |access-date=2022-04-26 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Frankie Edroff]] {{post-nominals|post-noms=OBC [[Meritorious Service Cross|MSC]]}}, philanthropist, appointed 2010 
* [[Sam Feldman (music executive)|Sam Feldman]] {{post-nominals|post-noms=OBC}}, music executive, appointed 2023
* [[Lance Finch]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=OBC, [[Queen's Counsel|Q.C.]]}}, former Chief Justice of British Columbia, appointed 2017
* [[David Foster]] OC OBC, Grammy Award winning musician and record executive, appointed 1995
* [[Lori Fung|Lori Fung Methorst]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=[[Order of Canada|CM]] OBC}}, Olympic gymnast, appointed 1990
* [[Garde Gardom|Garde Basil Gardom]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=OBC [[Queen's Counsel|QC]]}}, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, appointed 2002
* [[Paul George (environmentalist)|Paul George]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=OBC}}, Environmentalist, appointed 2020
* [[Gordon Gibson (politician, born 1937)|Gordon Gibson]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=OBC}}, politician, columnist, and author, appointed 2008
* [[Gurdev Singh Gill (physician)|Gurdev Singh Gill]], {{Post-nominals|OBC}}, Physician, appointed 1990<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=P. Ball |first=David |title=Canada's first South Asian physician, Dr. Gurdev Singh Gill, dies at 92 |work=[[CBC.ca]] |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/canada-first-south-asian-doctor-gurdev-singh-gill-dies-1.7069083}}</ref>
* [[Nancy Greene|Nancy Catherine Greene]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=[[Order of Canada|OC]] OBC [[Order of the Dogwood|OD]]}}, [[Senate of Canada|Senator]] and Olympic alpine skier, appointed 2004
* [[Rick Hansen|Richard M. Hansen]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=[[Order of Canada|CC]] OBC}}, paraplegic athlete and activist, appointed 1990
* [[Walter Hardwick]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=OBC}}, teacher and deputy minister of education, appointed 1997<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.protocol.gov.bc.ca/protocol/prgs/obc/1997/1997_WHardwick.htm |last=Government of British Columbia, Protocol and Events Branch |title=Order of British Columbia > Recipients > 1996–2001 > 1997 Recipients > Walter Hardwick – Vancouver |publisher=Queen's Printer for British Columbia |access-date=17 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091208081255/http://www.protocol.gov.bc.ca/protocol/prgs/obc/1997/1997_WHardwick.htm |archive-date=8 December 2009 }}</ref>
* [[Tara Singh Hayer]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=OBC}}, Indo Canadian Newspaper publisher, appointed 1995 
* [[Bonnie Henry]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=OBC}}, Provincial Health Officer, appointed 2021
* [[Bob Hindmarch]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=[[Order of Canada|CM]] OBC}} Professor and ice hockey coach, appointed 2010<ref>{{cite web|url=https://orderofbc.gov.bc.ca/members/obc-2010/2010-robert-hindmarch/|title=Robert (Bob) George Hindmarch|year=2010|website=Order of BC|publisher=Government of British Columbia|access-date=September 23, 2020}}</ref>
* [[E. J. Hughes|Edward John Hughes]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=[[Order of Canada|CM]] OBC}}, artist, appointed 2005
* [http://reconciliationcanada.ca/about/team/chief-dr-robert-joseph/ Robert Joseph, OBC], Hereditary Chief of the Gwawaenuk First Nation, and Ambassador for Reconciliation Canada, appointed 2015
* [[Douglas Jung]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=[[Order of Canada|CM]] OBC [[Canadian Forces' Decoration|CD]]}}, first [[Chinese Canadian]] federal Member of Parliament, appointed 1997
* [[Edgar Kaiser Jr.]]
* [[Kathy Kinloch]], businesswoman, appointed 2022
* [[Mary Kitagawa]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=OBC}}, educator, appointed 2018
* [[Joy Kogawa]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=[[Order of Canada|CM]] OBC}}, author and poet, appointed 2006
* [[Diana Krall|Diana Jean Krall]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=[[Order of Canada|OC]] OBC}}, jazz musician, appointed 2000
* [[David Lam]], {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|OC|CVO|OBC}}, Lieutenant-Governor of BC, appointed 1995
* [[Peter Anthony Larkin]] {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|OC|OBC|FRSC}}, fisheries scientist, appointed 1996
* [[Robert H. Lee]] {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|OC|OBC}}, real estate executive and philanthropist, appointed 1990
* [[Bob Lenarduzzi|Robert Italo Lenarduzzi]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=OBC}}, coach of Canadian Olympic and national soccer teams, appointed 2005
* [[Trevor Linden]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=[[Order of Canada|CM]] OBC}}, professional hockey player, appointed 2003
* [[Clarence Louie]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=OBC}}, Chief of the [[Osoyoos Indian Band]], appointed 2004
* [[Sarah McLachlan|Sarah Ann McLachlan]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=[[Order of Canada|OC]] OBC}}, musician, singer, and songwriter, appointed 2001
* [[Kenneth McVay]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=OBC}}, internet activist, appointed 1995
* [[Mavor Moore|James Mavor Moore]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=[[Order of Canada|CC]] OBC}}, writer, producer, critic, and educator, appointed 1999
* [[Steve Nash|Stephen John Nash]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=[[Order of Canada|OC]] OBC}}, [[National Basketball Association]] player, appointed 2006
* [[Wally Oppal]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=OBC, [[Queen's Counsel|Q.C.]]}}, former [[Attorney General of British Columbia]] and Justice of [[British Columbia Court of Appeal]], appointed 2017
* [[Sophie Pierre]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=OBC}}, Chief of St. Mary's Indian Band and commissioner for the [[BC Treaty Commission]], appointed 1994
* David R. Podmore {{Post-nominals|post-noms=OBC}}, co-founder of [[Concert Properties]], appointed 2014
* Jack W. Poole {{Post-nominals|post-noms=OBC}}, co-founder of [[Concert Properties]], appointed 2003
* [[Derek Porter|Derek Porter-Nesbitt]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=OBC}}, Olympic rower, appointed 1996
* [[Ryan Reynolds]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=OBC}}, actor and producer, appointed 2023
* [[Christopher Duncan Rose]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=OBC}}, teacher, school principal and school trustee, founder of the [[Chris Rose Therapy Centre for Autism]], appointed 2010
* [[Martin Schechter (epidemiologist)|Martin Schechter]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=OBC}}, HIV/AIDS scientist, appointed 1994
* [[Ernest Smith|Ernest Alvia Smith]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=[[Victoria Cross|VC]] [[Order of Canada|CM]] OBC [[Canadian Forces' Decoration|CD]]}}, last living [[List of Canadian Victoria Cross recipients|Canadian recipient]] of the [[Victoria Cross]], appointed 2002
* [[Michael Smith (chemist)|Michael Smith]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=OBC}}, UBC scientist and BC's first Nobel Prize winner, appointed 1994
* [[Arran Stephens]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=OBC}}, co-founder of [[Nature's Path]] and philanthropist, appointed 2022
* [[Ratana Stephens]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=OBC}}, co-founder of [[Nature's Path]] and philanthropist, appointed 2022
* Neil J. Sterritt, Gitxsan activist and author, appointed 2017<ref>{{Cite web |title=2017 Neil J. Sterritt – 150 Mile House : Order of BC |url=http://orderofbc.gov.bc.ca/2017-recipient-neil-j-sterritt-150-mile-house|access-date=6 November 2023}}</ref>
* [[David Suzuki|David Takayoshi Suzuki]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=[[Order of Canada|CC]] OBC}}, environmentalist and science broadcaster, appointed 1995
* [[Tamara Taggart]], former Canadian news anchor, appointed 2015
* [[Susan Tatoosh]], Indigenous leader, appointed 2019
* [[Arthur Vickers (artist)]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=OBC}}, artist, storyteller and philanthropist, appointed 2008
* [[Tamara Vrooman]], {{Post-nominals|post-noms=OBC}} businesswoman 
* [[Peter Wing]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=[[Order of Canada|CM]] OBC}}, first mayor of Chinese descent in North America, appointed 1990
* [[Brian Smith (Canadian politician)|Brian Smith]] {{Post-nominals|post-noms=OBC [[Queen's Counsel|QC]]}}, Attorney General of BC, chairman of [[CN Rail]] and [[BC Hydro]], appointed 2016<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mason |first=Kenny |date=2016-06-15 |title=Spirit of the West founder among the Order of BC recipients |url=https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2016/06/14/spirit-of-the-west-founder-among-the-order-of-bc-recipients/ |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=CityNews Vancouver |language=en}}</ref>

===Rescinded===
* [[David Sidoo]], CFL player, philanthropist, criminal (appointed in 2016; rescinded in 2020)

==See also==
{{Portal|Canada}}
* [[Symbols of British Columbia]]
* [[Orders, decorations, and medals of the Canadian provinces]]
* [[Canadian honours order of wearing]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last=McCreery |first=Christopher |author-link=Christopher McCreery |date=2015 |title=The Canadian Honours System |publisher=[[Dundurn Press]] |location=Toronto |isbn=978-1-4597-2415-0 |edition=2}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{official website|http://www.orderofbc.gov.bc.ca/}}

{{Orders, decorations, and medals of Canada}}

[[Category:British Columbia awards]]
[[Category:Provincial and territorial orders of Canada|British Columbia]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of British Columbia|*]]