Canadian honorifics
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Canadian honorifics are few, many of which are maintained from before Confederation and originate from the British honours system.
Contents |
[edit] Royal and governmental honorifics
| Honorific | In French | Accorded to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| His/Her Majesty | Sa Majesté | Canadian King and Queen, or Queen Consort | So styled for life (including widowhood in the case of the Queen Consort); lost if the monarch abdicates |
| His/Her Royal Highness | Son Altesse Royale | Children and male-line grandchildren of the current or a former reigning sovereign, and their wives; the husband of a queen regnant (unless he is also a monarch) | So born, so styled for life; married into the family (for women), so styled for the duration of marriage and subsequent widowhood but title is lost upon divorce; so granted by the monarch, for life unless otherwise provided for |
| His/Her Excellency | Son Excellence | Governor General of Canada Consort of the Governor General Ambassadors |
So styled while in office, thereafter Governor General styled Right Honourable/Très Honorable only. Consort does not maintain a style. |
| The Right Honourable | le Très Honorable | Governor General Prime Minister of Canada Chief Justice of Canada Can be granted to other individuals by the Governor General |
So styled for life |
| His/Her Honour | Son Honneur | Lieutenant Governors and their consorts | So styled while in office; thereafter the Honourable only |
| The Honourable | l'Honorable | Members of the Privy Council Senators Incumbent and former Lieutenant-Governors |
So styled for life |
| The Honourable | l'Honorable | Speaker of the House of Commons Supreme Court Justices Federal Court justices Territorial commissioners Executive Council members (e.g. provincial premiers and cabinet ministers) Speakers of provincial legislatures Provincial and territorial judges |
So styled while in office, unless otherwise authorized to maintain the style for life. |
| His/Her Worship | Son Honneur | Mayors Justices of the Peace |
So styled while in office |
[edit] Military honorifics
There exist two sets of ranks in the Canadian Forces, one for the army and air elements, and the second for the naval element. This was due to the strong identity of the Canadian navy.
| Honorific | In French | Honorific | In French |
|---|---|---|---|
| Land/Air rank | Naval rank | ||
| Flag ranks | |||
| General | Général | Admiral | Amiral |
| Lieutenant-General | Lieutenant général | Vice-Admiral | Vice-amiral |
| Major-General | Major-général | Rear-Admiral | Contre-amiral |
| Brigadier-General | brigadier-général | Commodore | Commodore |
| Officer ranks | |||
| Colonel | Colonel | Captain | Capitaine de vaisseau |
| Lieutenant-Colonel | Lieutenant-colonel | Commander | Capitaine de frégate |
| Major | Major | Lieutenant-Commander | Capitaine de corvette |
| Captain | Capitaine | Lieutenant | Lieutenant de vaisseau |
| Lieutenant | Lieutenant | Sub-Lieutenant | Enseigne de vaisseau de 1e classe |
| Second Lieutenant | Sous-lieutenant | Acting Sub-Lieutenant | Enseigne de vaisseau de 2e classe |
| Officer Cadet | Élève-officier | Naval Cadet | Aspirant de marine |
| Non-commissioned ranks | |||
| Chief Warrant Officer | Adjudant-chef | Chief Petty Officer, 1st Class | Premier maître de 1re classe |
| Master Warrant Officer | Adjudant-maître | Chief Petty Officer, 2nd Class | Premier maître de 2e classe |
| Warrant Officer | Adjudant | Petty Officer, 1st Class | Maître de 1re classe |
| Sergeant | Sergent | Petty Officer, 2nd Class | Maître de 2e classe |
| Master Corporal | Caporal-chef | Master Seaman | Matelot-chef |
| Corporal | Caporal | Leading Seaman | Matelot de 1re classe |
| Private | Soldat | Able Seaman | Matelot de 2e classe |
| Private (Recruit) | soldat (recrue) | Ordinary Seaman | Matelot de 3e classe |
[edit] Religious honorifics
Religions are free to use their own titles and honorifics provided that they do not contradict those used elsewhere in Canada. This is seen in the use of the title "His Excellency" by Roman Catholic archbishops and bishops which is not recognized by Canadian civil authorities. [1]
[edit] See also
- List of post-nominal letters in Canada
- Title and style of the Canadian monarch
- List of titles and honours of Queen Elizabeth II
- List of titles and honours of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
- List of titles and honours of Charles, Prince of Wales
- List of titles and honours of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
- English honorifics
- Styles of address [2]
