Background:
Created in May 1972, the Star of Courage (French – Étoile du Courage) is the second highest award for bravery within the Canadian system of honours. It recognises acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril. Although a Canadian award, it is not necessary that the act of bravery take place in Canada, nor must the person who carried out the act be a Canadian, however the event must have involved Canadians . All recipients may use the post nominal letters SC.
Design:
The award is a silver star representing the compass star Celeste with four points with a maple leaf in each of the angles formed by the cross. The obverse has a gold roundel at the centre of the star, bearing a maple leaf surrounded by a gold laurel wreath. The reverse bears on the upper arm the Royal Cypher of the reigning monarch beneath a St Edward’s crown. The inscription COURAGE is engraved across the centre. Below this is engraved the name and rank of the recipient. The 38mm wide ribbon is coloured red with two vertical blue stripes.
Bars:
For subsequent acts of bravery by a recipient of the SC, a bar is awarded in gold and bearing a maple leaf. The bar is worn on the ribbon from which the original medal is suspended. Recipients will also wear a small gold maple leaf on the ribbon bar when only ribbons are worn.
