Christopher McCreery, MVO (born September 1975, Kingston, Ontario, Canada) is a Canadian author and historian.
A native of Kingston Ontario McCreery holds a Doctorate in Canadian history from Queen’s University.
His Master’s thesis, “Questions of Honour: Canadian Government Policy Towards Titular Honours” was the first major academic work to examine the Canadian titles debate and the Nickle Resolution.
McCreery regularly comments on matters related to the Canadian honours system, the Order of Canada and the Governor General of Canada.
His published works include:
- “The Order of Canada; Its Origins, History and Development” (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2005)
- “The Canadian System of Honours” (Toronto: Dundurn Press, 2005)
- “On Her Majesty’s Service; Royal Honours and Recognition in Canada” (Toronto: Dundurn Press, 2007)
- “The Maple Leaf and the White Cross; A History of St. John Ambulance and the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in Canada” (Toronto Dundurn Press, 2008)
- “The Beginner’s Guide to Canadian Honours” (Toronto: Dundurn Press, 2008)
- "The Authentic Voice of Canada: R.B. Bennett Speeches in the House of Lords," 1941-1947 (McGill-Queen's University Press, 2009).
He also contributed a number of Commonwealth entries to Burkes Peerage and Gentry “World Orders of Knighthood and Merit” (2006).
McCreery's latest works include "The Canadian Forces' Decoration" (Department of National Defence, 2010) a work commissioned by the Department of National Defence to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of King George VI establishing the CD and "Canadian Symbols of Authority: Maces, Chains and Rods of Office," co-authored with Corinna Pike, covers the history of the ceremonial maces and badges of office that are used throughout Canada and was released in June 2011.
McCreery is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, a Fellow of the Centre for the Study of Democracy at Queen's University, a Director of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada, member of the Champlain Society, Orders and Medals Research Society and the Canadian Historical Association.
Since 2005 he has served as the National Historian for St. John Ambulance Canada and the Venerable Order of Saint John in Canada.
During the 2010 Royal Tour of Canada McCreery was appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) by Queen Elizabeth II in Halifax.
In February 2009 Dr. McCreery was appointed Private Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia.
He previously served as a Senior Advisor to the Leader of the Government in the Senate The Honourable Marjory LeBreton (2007–2009); Senior Advisor to the Speaker of the Senate The Honourable Noel Kinsella (2006–2007): and Executive Assistant to The Honourable Michael J.L. Kirby (2004–2006).
In 2010, McCreery was appointed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper to the Governor General Consultation Committee a special committee convened to recommend a successor to Michaëlle Jean. The Panel recommended David Lloyd Johnston.
In November 2010, McCreery submitted testimony to the Senate Standing Committee on National Security and Defence outlining the way in which the Maritime Command element of the Canadian Forces could be renamed Royal Canadian Navy.
This advice was ultimately followed by Minister of National Defence Peter MacKay on 15 August 2011 when the designation Royal Canadian Navy was returned to official use along with Royal Canadian Air Force and Canadian Army.
In April 2012 McCreery was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Canadian Museum of Civilization/Canadian War Museum for a four year term.