Page "Order of Canada" Paragraph 1

To coincide with the centennial of Canadian Confederation, the three-tiered order was established in 1967 as a fellowship that recognizes the achievement of outstanding merit or distinguished service by Canadians who made a major difference to Canada through lifelong contributions in every field of endeavour, as well as the efforts made by non-Canadians who have made the world better by their actions.

Membership is thus accorded to those who exemplify the order's Latin motto, desiderantes meliorem patriam, meaning " they desire a better country ", a phrase taken from Hebrews 11: 16 of the Bible The three tiers of the order are Companion, Officer, and Member.