Introduction

Over the past decade we have noticed a rampant increase in the number of people who are wearing their orders, decorations and medals incorrectly. The cadre of people who flagrantly violate the official rules on how you are supposed to wear your medals ranges from the average veteran right up to current and former Governors General. Indeed, there is much evidence to suggest that the higher the rank of the individual the more likely they are to just wear whatever they want, however they want. We like to think of this as “Instant Dictator Syndrome” or self-aggrandizement at its most obvious.

Why do people wear their medals incorrectly? Often it is because they simply do not know any better. If you are one of these people you should consult WEARING ORDERS, DECORATIONS AND MEDALS which is available from the Chancellery of Honours at Rideau Hall. This guide will help you figure out how you are supposed to wear your officially granted orders, decorations and medals.

When it comes to wearing your medals incorrectly the worst offenders tend to be former Governors General, Lieutenant Governors and retired Generals. When these people – all in authority and all surrounded by staff who know better – wear their medals wrong they are obviously suffering from the dreaded Instant Dictator Syndrome. The attitude accompanied with this most severe condition is “the more medals I wear the more important I will look.”

This simple blog is aimed at revealing the myriad of fellow Canadians who cannot seem to wear their medals correctly.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

The Hon. Steven Point, ruler of the land where the Lieutenant Governor can dress up any old way

Ribbons upside down, where is his aiguilette
and where is his head-dress?
Several readers have sent me images of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, His Honour the Honourable Steven Point, wearing his various insignia and CF uniform in completely non-sensical ways. It is depressing to see someone in such a high position wearing his various orders and medals  in completely the wrong way. Often he is seen with just a neck insignia, or his neck insignia worn like an sporting medal around the neck without a shortened ribbon, miniatures during the day and the list of errors goes on and on. Thankfully many of the errors have been preserved in photographs.

Ribbons clearly in the wrong order. Upside-down!








A grey undershirt -- it should be white?
Where is his aiguillette?
Ribbons upside down again,
where is his aiguillette, and he
 shouldn't be wearing the
Lieutenant Governor Badge
For members of the CF take heed that this Lieutenant Governor is completely ignorant of CF dress regulations -- he has repeatedly been seen with his ribbons on backwards (upside down), wearing the wrong colour undershirt (grey instead of white), failing to wear his aiguilette, and failing to wear head-dress outdoors. Unfortunately His Honour looks like the Captain Kangaroo of the Canadian Navy. Where is an overly officious CPO when you need one! Just peruse the gallery of photos to take in the full magnitude of this Lieutenant Governor's total inability to wear a CF uniform or medals.

Investiture length ribbons are fine for those who were just awarded the OBC,
but NOT for the Lieutenant Governor. He has had almost 3 years to shorten the length of his ribbon, nevertheless he persists with the olympic style ribbon.  
Miniatures during the day? Where is his neck badge for the OBC or  Order of St. John?
What is the mystery medal at the neck,
why is this man's Jubilee Medal being worn in the armpit?
The photos tell the story, these are not one time mistakes, but habitual errors. One is left to ask why no one has corrected Mr. Point. This photo of Point in the civil uniform is a travesty. He is wearing some mystery medal or piece of jewellery at the neck, then his Order of St. John, Order of British Columbia and his Golden Jubilee Medal is supposed to be worn on the breast, not in the armpit. Don't Lieutenant Governors have advisors and Aides de Camp to advise them on how NOT to look like complete fools when in public? I don't quite understand why he needs to wear the Lieutenant Governors badge when he is wearing the Lieutenant Governors Uniform, this would be like pinning additional rank badges onto a CF uniform. At least he seems to be having a good time in this last shot.
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1 comment:

  1. UnknownMarch 1, 2013 at 9:01 PM

    I am certain that that "mystery medal or piece of jewellery at the neck" he is wearing is the Order of Canada.

    ReplyDelete

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