Canadian honorifics

Honorifics in Canada are accorded to various office holders in government—in the federal, provincial, and municipal jurisdictions—as well as judges, members of the armed forces, and religious figures. Two styles—the Right Honourable and Honourable—are considered formal, while others, such as Your Excellency, are regarded as honorific and complimentary to the formal styles. Honours stem from the Canadian Crown.

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 a queen consort), but lost if the monarch abdicates.
His/Her Royal Highness	Son Altesse Royale	Children and male-line grandchildren of the current or a former reigning monarch	So styled for life.
		Wives of the children and male-line grandchildren of the current or a former reigning monarch	So styled for the duration of marriage and any subsequent widowhood, but lost in cases of divorce.
		Husband of a queen regnant (unless he is also a monarch)	So granted by the monarch, for life unless otherwise provided for.
His/Her Excellency	Son Excellence	governor general of Canada	So styled while in office; thereafter, only styled as the Right Honourable.
		Consort of the governor general	So styled for the duration of spouse's time as governor general.
		Ambassadors	So styled only in the country of accreditation.
The Right Honourable	Le/La très honorable	Governor general of Canada Prime minister of Canada Chief justice of Canada	So styled for life.
		Other individuals as determined by the King-in-Council	So styled at the pleasure of the governor general-in-Council.
His/Her Honour	Son Honneur	Lieutenant governors	So styled while in office; thereafter, only styled as The Honourable.
		Consorts of lieutenant governors	So styled for the duration of spouse's time as lieutenant governor.
The Honourable	L'honorable	Members of the King's Privy Council for Canada	So styled for life or until removal from the King's Privy Council for Canada.
		Lieutenant governors Senators Members of the Executive Council of Nova Scotia Members of the Executive Council of Alberta	So styled for life.
		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 Judges of the supreme courts of British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Northwest Territories, and Yukon Judges of the courts of King's bench in Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Saskatchewan Judges of the Ontario Court of Justice (General Division) Judges of the Superior Court of Quebec Judges of the courts of appeal in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan	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.

Military honorifics

Officers and non-commission members within the Canadian Armed Forces use ranks in accordance with the ranks and insignia of the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army, or the Royal Canadian Air Force, depending on which element they are a part of. Although all of the rank structures of the separate services were abolished with the unification of all three into one Canadian Forces in 1964, distinctive uniforms, insignia, and rank names have been gradually restored since then. Former members who were honourably released after serving a minimum of 10 years may continue to use the rank title held at the time of release with the word "(Retired)" or abbreviation "(Ret'd)". Similarly, members of the Supplementary Reserve sub-component of the Reserve Force may use their rank in the same manner as former members, unless on duty or engaged in military activities.

Religious honorifics

Religions are free to use their own titles and honorifics, provided they do not contradict those used elsewhere in Canada. This is seen in the use of the style His Excellency by Roman Catholic archbishops and bishops, which is not recognized by Canadian civil authorities.

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 III
• List of titles and honours of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
• English honorifics

External links

• Government of Canada: Styles of address