This display showcases a range of prestigious military and peacekeeping medals, including the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal, which honors Canadian contributions to global peace, and the Victoria Cross, the highest award for valor in combat. Notable pieces include the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the George Cross for civilian bravery, and the NATO Medal for Kosovo, recognizing service in various conflicts and peacekeeping missions. This collection highlights exceptional courage and dedication across different eras and roles.
Cabinet

Artifacts
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Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal
(French: Médaille canadienne du maintien de la paix) is a campaign medal created October 21, 1999 to recognize the contributions of all Canadian Peacekeepers toward the ultimate goal of peace, after the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations was awarded that year’s Nobel Peace Prize. Context: The prestigious Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to all United Nations Peacekeepers in 1988 in recognition of their …
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Medal , Distinguished Conduct (DCM)
Context: The Distinguished Conduct Medal was a decoration established in 1854 by Queen Victoria for gallantry in the field by other ranks of the British Army. It is the oldest British award for gallantry and was a second level military decoration, ranking below the Victoria Cross, until it was discontinued in 1993 when it was replaced by the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross. The medal …
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Medal, 1939-1945 Star
Eligibility and criteria: The 1939-45 Star was awarded for service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. The medal was for six months service on active operations for Army and Navy, and two months for active air crew. Description: The six-pointed star is yellow, copper-zinc alloy. The obverse has a central design of the …
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Medal, British Empire (Military and Civil) (BEM)
Context: The Medal of the Order of the British Empire is for Meritorious Service. This medal replaced the Medal of the Order of the British Empire (1917-1922) and had a military and a civil division. Eligibility and Criteria: The medal was awarded for commendable service which warranted such a mark of royal appreciation. Description: It …
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Medal, British Meritorious Service (MSM)
Context: This medal was awarded for valuable and commendable service. Eligibility and Criteria: The medal was awarded to those in the permanent forces including Warrant Officers and senior Non-commissioned Officers (NCOs) (Sergeant or above), who were discharged after 21 years of service (18 if disabled) and had earned the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. …
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Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service
Context: The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) was established on 22 October 1943. Eligibility and criteria: The CVSM was granted to persons of any rank in the Naval, Military or Air Forces of Canada who voluntarily served on Active Service and honorably completed eighteen months total voluntary service from 3 September 1939 to 1 March …
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Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service, Korea | The Governor General of Canada
More than 26,000 men and women volunteered to serve with the Canadian Armed Forces in the Far East in the early 1950s. These veterans have been entitled to wear the Canadian Korea Medal and/or the United Nations Service Medal for Korea since the end of the conflict in 1953. The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for …
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Medal, Cross, Military (MC)
Context: The Military Cross (MC) was established on 28 December 1914. Eligibility and Criteria: The Military Cross may be awarded to Commissioned Officers of the substantive rank of Captain or below (therefore acting and temporary Majors are eligible) or Warrant Officers for distinguished and commendable services in battle. In 1920, the terms were altered to …
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Medal, Cross, Victoria (VC)
Context: Military valour decorations are national honours awarded in recognition of acts of valour, self-sacrifice, or devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy. Four Canadians were awarded the (British) Victoria Cross for their heroic actions on Vimy Ridge during the First World War. It was awarded for conspicuous bravery or some daring or …
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Medal, Cross, Victoria (VC), Blue Ribbon
Originally, the VC ribbon was dark blue for the Royal Navy and crimson (red) for the Army. The VC was introduced on 29 January 1856 by Queen Victoria to reward acts of valour during the Crimean War. In 1918, King George V approved the crimson ribbon to be adopted by all three services. It is …
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Medal, Defence
Eligibility and Criteria: The medal was usually awarded to Canadians for six months service in Britain between 03 September 1939 and 08 May 1945, for service overseas or outside the country of residence, providing such service lasted for one year, except in territories threatened by the enemy or subject to bomb attacks, in which case …
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Medal, France and Germany Star
Context: The France and Germany Star is a Second World War medal. Eligibility and criteria: The star was awarded for one day or more of service in France, Belgium, Holland or Germany between 06 June 1944 (D-Day) and 08 May 1945. Description: The six-pointed star is yellow, copper-zinc alloy. The obverse has a central design …
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Medal, George Cross (GC): 1940 – Present
The GC is the highest gallantry award for civilians but also for military personnel whose actions would not normally be eligible to receive military awards, such as gallantry not in the face of the enemy. The George Cross (GC) was created on 24 September 1940. At this time, during the height of the German aggression, there …
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Medal, George The
The George Medal (GM), instituted on 24 September 1940 by King George VI, is a decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth, awarded for gallantry, typically to civilians. Criteria: The medal is granted in recognition of “acts of great bravery”. The original warrant for the George Medal did not explicitly permit it to be awarded …
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Medal, Italy Star
Context: The Italy Star is a Second World War medal. Eligibility and criteria: The star was awarded for a minimum of one day operational service in Sicily or Italy between 11 June 1943 and 08 May 1945. Description: The six–pointed star is yellow, copper-zinc alloy. The obverse has a central design of the Royal and …
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Medal, King George V Silver Jubilee (1935)
Context: This medal was to mark the 25th year of the accession of King George V to the British throne. Eligibility and Criteria: This medal was awarded to the Royal Family, officers of state, officials and servants of the royal household, ministers, government officials, mayors, public servants, local government officials, members of the navy, army, …
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Medal, Korea (1951 Queen’s Korea Medal)
The Korea Medal (1951) is sometimes referred to as the Queen’s Korea Medal to distinguish it from the United Nations Service Medal. This medal was instituted July 1951 by King George VI for an award to the British Commonwealth forces, except South Africa, who were deployed to Korea and the surrounding waters between 2nd July, 1950 and 27th July, 1953. …
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Medal, Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
The Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry, established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. It comprises five classes across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two of which make the recipient either a knight if male or dame if female. King George V founded the order to fill gaps in the British honors system. Members of the military division …
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Medal, Military (MM)
Context: The medal was instituted on 25 March 1916. Eligibility and Criteria: The medal is awarded to Warrant Officers, Non-commissioned Officers and non-commissioned members for individual or associated acts of bravery on the recommendation of a Commander-in-Chief in the field. Description: It is a circular, silver medal, 1.42 inch in diameter. For mounting, an ornate …
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Medal, Military Valour (MMV)
Context: Military Valour Decorations are national honours awarded to recognize acts of valour, self-sacrifice, or devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy. Eligibility and Criteria: A person is eligible to be awarded a Military Valour Decoration if that person, on or after 1 January 1993, is: • a member of the Canadian Forces; …
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Medal, Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
The Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry, established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. It comprises five classes across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two of which make the recipient either a knight if male or dame if female. King George V founded the order to fill gaps in the British honors system. Members of the military division …
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Medal, Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee (2002)
The Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal was created in 2002 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the ascension of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to the throne in 1952. The Medal was awarded to Canadians who made outstanding and exemplary contributions to their communities or to Canada as a whole. Description: It is a …
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Medal, UN Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP)
Context: In the interest of international peace and security, the mission was established in March 1964 to use its best efforts to prevent the recurrence of fighting between the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and, as necessary, to contribute to the maintenance and restoration of law and order and a return to normal conditions. Eligibility …
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Medal, UN Mission in Haiti (UNMIH) back of medal
Context This mission was established to help implement certain provisions of the Governors Island Agreement signed by the Haitian parties on 3 July 1993. In 1993, UNMIH’s mandate was to assist in modernizing the armed forces of Haiti and establishing a new police force. Eligibility and criteria: The medal is awarded for 90 consecutive days …
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Medal, United Nations Service (Korea)
Context: The United Nations Service Medal was instituted 12 December 1950 for service from 27 June 1950 to 27 July 1954 and was earned for serving one day under United Nations’ command in Korea or adjacent areas. Eligibility and criteria: The medal was also awarded for an aggregate of 30 days, which need not have …
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Medal, War (Victory Medal) 1939-1945
Context: The War Medal 1939-1945 is a Second World War medal. Eligibility and criteria: The medal was awarded to all full-time personnel of the Armed Forces and Merchant Marines for serving for 28 days between 03 September 1939 and 02 September 1945. In the Merchant Navy, the 28 days must have been served at sea. …
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NATO Medal for Kosovo (NATO-K)
Context: The conflict in the Kosovo province of the Yugoslav Federal Republic started at the beginning of 1998 with armed incidents between the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and the Yugoslav military and police force. The armed conflict caused a humanitarian catastrophe which had to be urgently addressed by a concerted action of the broad international …