Alberta Order of Excellence - Structure and Appointment

Structure and Appointment

Further information: List of members of the Alberta Order of Excellence

The Alberta Order of Excellence is intended to honour any current or former long-time resident of Alberta who has demonstrated a high level of individual excellence and achievement in any field, having "rendered service of the greatest distinction and of singular excellence for or on behalf of the residents of Alberta." Canadian citizenship is a requirement, and those who are elected or appointed members of a governmental body are ineligible as long as they hold office. Only 10 people may be inducted each year, though a nomination may remain up for consideration by the council for seven years.

The process of finding qualified individuals begins with submissions from the public to the Council of the Alberta Order of Excellence, which consists of six individuals without prequalification appointed by the lieutenant governor and meets once yearly to make its selected recommendations to the viceroy each June; posthumous nominations are not accepted. The lieutenant governor, who is ex officio a member and the Chancellor of the Alberta Order of Excellence and remains a member following his or her departure from viceregal office, then makes all appointments into the fellowship's single grade of membership by letters patent bearing the viceroyal sign-manual and the Great Seal of the province. Thereafter, the new members are entitled to use the post-nominal letters AOE and have their portrait added to two galleries, one each at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium and Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.