OTTAWA - A new official honour has been created to recognize Canadian volunteers.
The Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers will be awarded to those who have made a significant, sustained, unpaid contribution to their community.
The new honour incorporates and replaces the existing Governor General's Caring Canadian Award, established in 1995 by then-governor general Romeo LeBlanc.
Gov. Gen. David Johnston announced the establishment of the new medal today, following its approval by Queen Elizabeth II.
He says the medal will emphasize Canada's commitment to giving.
The last federal budget gave the governor general an additional $2.8 million per year to update Canada's existing honours system in a bid to bring it more into the modern era.
