Canadian honorifics
Canadian honorifics are few in number, and many of them are maintained from before Confederation and originate from the British honours system.
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 monarch | So born, so styled for life. |
| · Wives of the children and male-line grandchildren of the current or a former reigning monarch |
Married into the family (for women), so styled for the duration of marriage and subsequent widowhood, but title is lost upon 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 governor general styled the Right Honourable/Très Honorable only. |
| · Ambassadors | So styled only in the country of accreditation. | ||
| · Consort of the governor general | So styled for the duration of spouse's time as governor general. | ||
| The Right Honourable | le Très Honorable | · Governor general · Prime Minister of Canada · Chief Justice of Canada |
So styled for life. |
| · Other individuals as determined by the Governor-General-in-Council | So styled at the pleasure of the Governor-General-in-Council. | ||
| His/Her Honour | Son Honneur | · Lieutenant governors and their consorts | So styled while in office; thereafter the Honourable only. |
| · Consorts of lieutenant governors | So styled for the duration of spouse's time as lieutenant governor. | ||
| The Honourable | l'Honorable | · Members of the privy council | So styled for life or until removal from the privy council. |
| · Senators · Incumbent and former lieutenant governors |
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 · 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. |
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.
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.[1]
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