Wearing of non recognized medals in EMS

[Booter]

The Canadian government can't be bothered, in the vast majority of cases, to prosecute offences contrary to our Honours and Awards.

If serving, follow the rules.

If you're not serving, do what you want, but be ready to explain yourself should someone notice and take issue.

There’s nothing enforceable. The only thing enforceable is misrepresenting yourself with service and decorations.

 

[eliminator]

Personally, I think that the vast majority of folks wearing their assortment of national, provincial, local awards together are not trying to pose a 'bling heroes', just saying that there are, in fact, rules that govern the use of national honours.

Is there a 'medals police' roaming the streets verifying medals racks?...no and certainly nobody would ever enforce the rules, however, just stating that we do have a national Honours System.

 

[mariomike]

(Guessing this isn't a problem anymore! hah!)

May still be for some.

Go gatekeep elsewhere.

Ottawa sent me an ESM, with a 30-year Bar, after 33 years running 9-1-1 calls full-time in Canada's largest city.

It was a kind, and thoughful gesture from Ottawa.

Never wore it during the two years I had left, because I didn't work for Ottawa.

For street-level muni guys on emergency Operations, the lower left sleeve displayed one cloth insignia for every five years of completed full-time service on the department. Not previous, or part-time, employers.

As far as sentimental bling, even after 15 years of retirement, that would still be my engraved quarter-century gold watch and lapel pin and ring from Metro.

Edit to add,

Booter said,

The city of Toronto owns the uniform they can say they want their members to wear their decorations how they’d like.

America's largest city, New York, restricts their police officers, firefighters and paramedics to wearing ONLY medals, ribbons, citations etc. awarded by the City on their departmental uniforms.

ie: Non-departmental medals, ribbons etc. from other agencies ( eg: military ) are not worn on departmental uniforms.

 

[RocketRichard]

You've never been stuck alone in an enclosed facility where 1000's of teenagers with gallons of fresh hormones pumping through their blood are similarly stuck...

Oh yes I have and it didn’t count towards a CD…

 

[Cloud Cover]

Oh yes I have and it didn’t count towards a CD…

Really? Stuck in what?…

 

[Kilted]

Personally, I think that the vast majority of folks wearing their assortment of national, provincial, local awards together are not trying to pose a 'bling heroes', just saying that there are, in fact, rules that govern the use of national honours.

Is there a 'medals police' roaming the streets verifying medals racks?...no and certainly nobody would ever enforce the rules, however, just stating that we do have a national Honours System.

Unfortunately, many of these departments did not do their due diligence in drafting their uniform polices to ensure that they comply with established directions from the crown. There is nothing stopping these department and/or the provinces from establishing their own medals, as long as they are worn on the right side.

The provincial medals are somewhat confusing, as some of them have been approved for wear, and some haven't been. Ontario has a fair number that have been approved for wear, other then ones that are for criteria that is already recognized by the Exemplary Service Medals. The rule against dual recognition generally prevents these from being approved for wear. For example, Ontario has a 25-year service medal for Firefighters. This one isn't authorized for wear because that service has already been recognized. Unfortuanely, you still see many people wearing it on the left side, including a few people that I have seen wear on a military uniform.

Ontario recently introduced a Paramedic Medal for Bravery, to go along with the officially recognized equivalents for Fire and Police. Presumably, it will eventually be added to the Order of Prescidence. However, until that time, it should only be worn on the right side.

 

[mariomike]

Unfortunately, many of these departments did not do their due diligence in drafting their uniform polices to ensure that they comply with established directions from the crown.

Ok.

"The crown" sent me an ESM, with 30-year Bar, after working 9-1-1 Operations, 40-hours a week, for 35 years in Canada's largest city.

Never worn it. I was not a federal employee.

I still wear my engraved gold watch from the Department. Because that represents something to me. They signed my pay cheque.

For those on the job, the cloth insignia on your lower left sleeve for years of service - with the department - is what counts with your colleagues.

If one feels the need for bling, probably best to get a job with "the crown".

 

[eliminator]

Unfortunately, many of these departments did not do their due diligence in drafting their uniform polices to ensure that they comply with established directions from the crown. There is nothing stopping these department and/or the provinces from establishing their own medals, as long as they are worn on the right side.

The provincial medals are somewhat confusing, as some of them have been approved for wear, and some haven't been. Ontario has a fair number that have been approved for wear, other then ones that are for criteria that is already recognized by the Exemplary Service Medals. The rule against dual recognition generally prevents these from being approved for wear. For example, Ontario has a 25-year service medal for Firefighters. This one isn't authorized for wear because that service has already been recognized. Unfortuanely, you still see many people wearing it on the left side, including a few people that I have seen wear on a military uniform.

Ontario recently introduced a Paramedic Medal for Bravery, to go along with the officially recognized equivalents for Fire and Police. Presumably, it will eventually be added to the Order of Prescidence. However, until that time, it should only be worn on the right side.

It seems like the standards vary province to province. In NB, police, fire, EMS, etc all seem to wear their 'unofficial' medals on the right side of their uniforms, whereas in Alberta, there is a culture of 'wear-em-if-you-got-em', even if it's 4 medals for the same service. Not sure if we'll ever see the provincial/city/association long-service medals become recognized provincial honours.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

It seems like the standards vary province to province. In NB, police, fire, EMS, etc all seem to wear their 'unofficial' medals on the right side of their uniforms, whereas in Alberta, there is a culture of 'wear-em-if-you-got-em', even if it's 4 medals for the same service. Not sure if we'll ever see the provincial/city/association long-service medals become recognized provincial honours.

Nice looking rack.

 

[Booter]

It seems like the standards vary province to province. In NB, police, fire, EMS, etc all seem to wear their 'unofficial' medals on the right side of their uniforms, whereas in Alberta, there is a culture of 'wear-em-if-you-got-em', even if it's 4 medals for the same service. Not sure if we'll ever see the provincial/city/association long-service medals become recognized provincial honours.

I just looked up medal mounting services in NB. Super common from appearances to mount provincial medals with federal, especially EMS. Is it possible you hang out with people that are more mindful?

Seems to be examples of both on this page

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