Governor General's Academic Medal
The Governor General's Academic Medal is awarded to the student graduating with the highest grade point average from a Canadian high school, college or university program. They are presented by the educational institution on behalf of the Governor General.
History
The medals were created by Lord Dufferin, Canada's third Governor General after Confederation in 1873.
Criteria
To maintain a spirit of universality across the country, the medals are awarded on academic marks only, regardless of the less tangible aspects of the student's life,[1] such as good citizenship, moral behaviour and, volunteer and community work. The Chancellery of Honours administers the Governor General’s Academic Medal. Canadian citizenship is not a prerequisite for the award.
Famous recipients
Famous recipients include:
- Pierre Trudeau – later as Prime Minister of Canada and federal Liberal Party leader
- Tommy Douglas – later as Premier of Saskatchewan, leader of the CCF and federal NDP
- Robert Bourassa – later as Premier of Quebec and Quebec Liberal leader
- Robert Stanfield – later as federal Progressive Conservative Leader and Leader of the Opposition
- Kim Campbell – later as federal Progressive Conservative Leader and Prime Minister
- Adrienne Clarkson – later as journalist and Governor General of Canada
- Gabrielle Roy – French-Canadian author was a three-time winner
- Rachel Marsden - journalist, Fox News host, and internationally syndicated columnist [2]
- Jean-Claude Bradley – chemist who coined the term Open Notebook Science.
- Robert Christy
Categories
Governor General’s Academic Medals are awarded at four levels.
- Bronze – secondary school level
- Collegiate Bronze – post-secondary, diploma level
- Silver – undergraduate level
- Gold – graduate level
There is no monetary award associated with the Medal.
