Cross of Valour (Canada)
| Cross of Valour | |
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Cross of Valour
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Awarded by the monarch of Canada |
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| Type | Medal |
| Awarded for | Acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril |
| Status | Currently awarded |
| Post-nominals | CV |
| Statistics | |
| Established | 1 May 1972 |
| First awarded | 20 July 1972 |
| Total awarded | 20 |
| Posthumous awards |
5 |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Victoria Cross |
| Next (lower) | Member of the Order of Merit |
_with_ribbon_bar.svg){kind=small} Ribbon bar of the Cross of Valour |
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The Cross of Valour (French: Croix de la vaillance) is a decoration that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the second highest award (superseded only by the Victoria Cross), the highest honour available for Canadian civilians, and the highest of the three Canadian Bravery Decorations. Created in 1972, the medallion is presented to individuals, both Canadians and foreigners, living and deceased, who have performed acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril and grants recipients the ability to use the post-nominal letters CV.
The Cross of Valour was conceived of as a replacement for the Order of Canada's Medal of Courage, which had never been awarded since its creation in 1967. On the advice of her Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, the Cross of Valour was initiated on 1 May 1972 by Queen Elizabeth II, and presented for the first time on 20 July of the same year. Prior to 1967, the equivalent medal that Canadians received was the George Cross, of which ten were awarded in Canada: eight military, one merchant navy, and one civilian.
The Cross of Valour became the centre of a controversy in 2007, when it was announced from the Chancellery of Honours at the Governor General of Canada's residence, Rideau Hall, that deceased Cobourg, Ontario, police constable Chris Garrett would not be awarded the honour. Garett died on duty after an individual lured him with a false 9-1-1 call and then cut his throat; however, Garett, as he was dying, shot and disabled the assailant, thereby preventing other planned attacks. But, because Garett's nominator waited until the trial for the constable's murderer was concluded, the application arrived at Rideau Hall eight months past the stipulated two-year deadline. After a public outcry, the Governor General-in-Council adjusted the rules of application for the Cross of Valour. Garrett was granted the Star of Courage.
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