Order of New Brunswick

Established in December 2000, the Order of New Brunswick is the highest honour awarded by the province to recognize individuals who have demonstrated excellence and achievement and who have made outstanding contributions to the social, cultural or economic well-being of New Brunswick and its residents. 

Any Canadian citizen who is a present or former long-term resident of New Brunswick is eligible for nomination to the Order of New Brunswick. 

Individuals must have contributed significantly to the social, cultural or economic well-being of New Brunswick and its residents by demonstrating excellence and achievement in a given area. 

Elected representatives currently serving in the House of Commons, the Senate, the legislative assembly of New Brunswick and judges of any court are not eligible for nomination. 

 Each nomination must include: 

• a completed nomination form (original and signed). 
• a statement indicating how long you have known the nominee and the reasons you believe this nominee is a worthy candidate. The statement should be typed and should not exceed one page. (Step 2 of nomination form) 
• three testimonial letters from three separate individuals other than the nominator, who have direct knowledge of the value and impact of the nominee’s achievement and who support the nomination. The letters must be typed and signed by the testimonial writer and should not exceed one page. No more than three testimonial letters of support will be accepted. (Step 3 of nomination form) 
• additional material (optional) to support the nomination such as: publications, media stories, tributes, work produced. Additional material should be presented in an 8.5” x 11” (letter size) format and should not exceed four pages in total. (Step 4 of nomination form) 
• nominator’s information (Step 5 of nomination form) 

For your nomination to stand out among the many we receive, you must explain and include evidence and clear examples of what makes your nominee so exceptional. It is important to use specific and concrete examples to illustrate how your nominee meets each of the eligibility and award criteria.  

Show how nominees have: 

• encouraged and personified the virtue of exemplary citizenship 
• touched or enriched the lives of others, particularly those who are vulnerable or less able to help themselves 
• shown ongoing initiative, leadership and dedication 
• devoted themselves to sustained and selfless voluntary service 
• earned the respect of their peers and become a role model in their field 
• demonstrated innovation or creativity in delivering lasting results 

A compelling nomination should also describe as vividly and precisely as possible the difference your nominee’s contribution has made and show why it has been important. Include details such as: 

• the scale of the achievements and whether it is completed or ongoing 
• the achievement’s sustainability and impact on the community or province 
• and how it has enriched the lives of others 
• what made this an outstanding achievement – indicate any extraordinary circumstances or challenges the nominee faced 
• what makes your nominee different from others doing the same thing 

The testimonial letters should: 

• be written by individuals who know the nominee well enough to be able to talk about the influence of their achievement from first-hand experience 
• be current and written specifically for the Order of New Brunswick 
• provide various examples from a range of views and perspectives 

The nomination should not be: 

• an extended resume 
• a list of educational achievements or transcripts 
• a list of appointments, awards or posts 
• a job description showing what the person has been hired to do 

An independent group called the Order of New Brunswick Advisory Council recommends the appointment of members to the order each year after considering all the nominations received. There are no fixed quotas or categories, but there is a maximum number of five appointments annually. Unsuccessful nominations are automatically carried forward for a total of three years. All information received is confidential. 

The Order of New Brunswick may be conferred posthumously if an individual’s name has been approved for membership prior to that individual’s death and, in exceptional circumstances, in respect of an individual who is nominated after his or her death. 

• The Chief Justice of New Brunswick (alternating with King’s Bench), as chairperson 
• The Clerk of the Executive Council 
• The president of a provincially funded university (rotation) 
• Three to five other members from the community appointed by the Executive Council 

• See 2024 recipients
• See all past recipients

The Canadian Honours System has rules in regards to how and when an insignia should be worn. Learn more about the correct way of wearing your Order of New Brunswick medal. 

• Wearing of Insignia