Youth
Medal
Medal Presentation
The Lieutenant Governor's Medal for Youth is an honour that recognizes high school, cégep, and university students who stand out for their commitment, dedication, and positive contribution to their community.
It aims to shine a light on young people who demonstrate a strong social commitment, positive leadership, personal excellence, and sustained academic perseverance.
This distinction also recognizes their ability to overcome personal challenges and to inspire their community through their determination and spirit of mutual support.
The goal is not to recognize academic achievement, but rather to highlight the quality of one's engagement and the positive impact of the actions taken.
Furthermore, this recognition is non-partisan and apolitical.
Visual Design of the Youth Medal
This "bronze" medal is distinguished by a clean and evocative design, showcasing emblematic symbols of Québec that reflect both its history, its culture, and its institutional role.
The obverse of the medal features, at its centre, the coat of arms of Québec — a powerful emblem of its history and identity. Its border bears the name and title of the Lieutenant Governor in office, grounding this distinction in the institutional continuity it embodies.
On the reverse, the flag of Québec is proudly displayed, symbolizing an attachment to Québec's values, culture, and pride.
Submitting Nominations
The nomination period runs from November 1st to February 1st.
Before submitting a nomination, educational institutions are invited to review the eligibility criteria below to ensure that the young people being put forward meet the requirements and fully reflect the values of this distinction.
Eligibility Criteria
For an educational institution to submit a student's nomination, the student must, by the nomination deadline, meet the following criteria: :
1. Status and Residency
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act ( S.C. 2001, c. 27 ).
- Reside permanently in Québec.
2. Age
- Be under 29 years of age.
3. Nomination Requirements
The nominated individual must:
Be enrolled in a secondary, collegial, or university institution — public or private — or in a vocational training centre under a school service centre or school board located in Québec.
Be enrolled in a program recognized by the Ministry of Education and, where applicable, by the Ministry of Higher Education.
4. Commitment and Contribution
Through their involvement, the student must have:
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Demonstrated sustained volunteer commitment on a social or community level;
and/or
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Shown an inspiring attitude and exercised a positive influence within a group or community.
5. Academic Standing
- Be on track to meet the objectives of their program of study.
Responsibilities of the Educational Institution:
The staff member designated by the institution's administration must:
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Duly complete the electronic nomination form
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Officially endorse the student's nomination
Note:
Only nominations for living individuals will be accepted.
However, a nomination remains eligible if the individual passes away after it has been submitted.
Allocation by Type of Educational Institution
The table below illustrates the allocation of medals by type of educational institution. This allocation ensures that the exceptional commitment of young people is recognized and celebrated across all educational settings, whether secondary, collegial, university, or vocational training.
Grounds for Rejecting a Nomination
- The student has already received the same medal for which their nomination is being submitted.
- The nomination form was completed by someone other than a staff member of the educational institution designated by the administration.
- The presentation text is too brief, incomplete, or written in the form of a curriculum vitae.
- The text supporting the awarding of the medal was written by the nominated individual; it must be written in the third person singular.
PLEASE NOTE: The Lieutenant Governor reserves the right to reject any nomination that does not meet the eligibility criteria or for any other reason deemed relevant.
Nomination Deadline
The nomination period opens each year on November 1st and runs for three months.
A staff member of the educational institution, designated by the administration, must complete the electronic nomination form for each nominated individual no later than February 1st.
Seul le formulaire électronique est accepté; ce dernier est accessible plus bas sur cette page. En cas de problème technique ou si vous avez de la difficulté à accéder ou à remplir le formulaire, veuillez communiquer avec nous à l’adresse suivante : distinctions@mce.gouv.qc.ca.
Once the nomination period has closed, the form will no longer be accessible in order to allow for the processing of nominations and the coordination of ceremonies.
No extensions will be granted, regardless of the circumstances.
A Few Guidelines Before Completing the Form
Before completing the form, please take note of the following essential information:
Maintain the confidentiality of each nomination in order to avoid any disappointment or discomfort for the administration of the educational institution should the nomination not be selected. At the end of the selection process, the Chief of Staff and Private Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor will inform recipients by letter and official invitation. The awarding of the medal is not automatic.
Verify the exact spelling of the first name and birth surname of the nominated individual, as this information will be reproduced exactly for the official designation of the recipient.
Ensure correct use of accents, hyphens, upper case, and lower case letters.
All fields marked with an asterisk (*) are mandatory. Leaving a required field blank will prevent you from proceeding to the next step.
Do not write the text entirely in capital letters, as this is not permitted and may result in the form being rejected.
Writing the Nomination Text
The nomination text must be written in an appropriate manner and must not exceed 850 words.
It must describe how the nominated individual meets the eligibility criteria listed above and what sets them apart.
Here are some recommendations for writing the text:
Avoid lists or bullet-point formats resembling a curriculum vitae — do not simply mention associations or activities. The text must not reproduce word for word anything written by the nominated individual and must be written in the third person. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in the nomination being rejected.
Do not use acronyms or abbreviations when referring to committees, organizations, or clubs. Provide their full name and, if necessary, briefly explain their nature.
Use clear and precise language when describing the meritorious actions, as the evaluation of the nomination will be based on this text.
Write the text in the language (French or English) in which you wish the recipient's introduction to be delivered at the ceremony.
Summary Text for the Ceremony: :
In keeping with the writing guidelines, you will also be required to produce a summary text of no more than 75 words highlighting the nominated individual's key achievements and their impact within the community or educational institution.
This text may be used to introduce the recipient at the medal presentation ceremony.
Eligibility Criteria (reminder): :
You must ensure that the nominated individual meets all of the program's criteria, including:
- Hold Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status within the meaning of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (S.C. 2001, c. 27);
- Reside permanently in Québec.
Submitting a Nomination
The nomination period is currently closed.
The next nomination period opens on November 1st, in:
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Submitting a Nomination
La période de candidature est ouverte jusqu’au 1er février 2027 inclusivement.
To submit a nomination, click the button below to access the nomination form directly.
About the Ceremonies
The medal is presented to recipients at official ceremonies presided over by the Lieutenant Governor, underscoring the importance and value of this distinction.
Upon receiving the official letter of invitation sent by the Chief of Staff and Private Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor, each recipient is required to attend in person the ceremony to which they are invited in order to receive their medal. Only deceased individuals may be represented by a loved one.
It is important to note that no financial assistance is associated with this Honours and Recognition Program. This recognition is intended solely to honour the commitment and exceptional contribution of those being distinguished.
How to Access Your Complimentary Souvenir Photos
By visiting our Photo Sharing Platform, please follow the steps below to access your photographs:
Select the year of your event to locate your ceremony and browse the photos.
Choose the desired photograph, then save it by clicking the download icon located at the bottom right of the image. You will then be able to choose "Open" or "Save As…" and select the folder of your choice.
Please note :
The processing and upload time for photographs taken at the ceremony may range from 48 hours to 5 business days.
If you experience any difficulties: :
Please do not hesitate to contact us:
Telephone: 418-643-5385 or 1-866-791-0766