Mayor’s New Year’s Honour List Policy

Legislative History: Adopted June 13, 2017 (By-law No. CPOL.-18-214); Amended July 24, 2018 (By-law No. CPOL.-18(b)-390); Amended October 15, 2019 (By-law No. CPOL.-18(c)-288); Amended August 10, 2021 (By-law No. CPOL.-18(d)-231); Amended July 5, 2022 (By-law No. CPOL.-18(e)-204); Amended July 25, 2023 (By-law No. CPOL.-18(f)-207); Amended June 3, 2025 (By-law No. CPOL.-18(g)-175)

Service Area Lead: City Clerk

1. Policy Statement

1.1 This policy establishes the Mayor’s New Year’s Honour List for the recognition of individuals who have contributed in an outstanding manner to the community of London in one of the following categories: Accessibility, Age Friendly, Arts, Distinguished Londoner, Diversity, Race Relations, and Inclusion, Environment, Heritage, Housing, Humanitarianism, Safety & Crime Prevention, and Sports..

2. Definitions

Not applicable.

3. Applicability

3.1 This policy applies to all individuals who have contributed in an outstanding manner to the community of London in prescribed categories.

4. The Policy

4.1 Categories

Individuals may be recognized in any of the following categories:

a) Accessibility (i.e. contributions to foster an environment of inclusion that embraces citizens of all abilities);

b) Age Friendly (i.e. contributions to empowering older adults and advancing an age friendly community);

c) Arts (i.e. contributions to fostering and/or the production of human creativity);

d) Diversity, Race Relations, and Inclusion (i.e. contributions to the elimination of hate and discrimination);

e) Environment (i.e. contributions to the awareness, preservation and protection of the environment);

f) Heritage (i.e. contributions to the awareness, preservation and protection of heritage resources);

g) Housing (i.e. contributions to the provision of safe and accessible housing for all members of the community);

h) Humanitarianism (i.e. contributions to human welfare through philanthropic and other efforts);

i) Safety & Crime Prevention (i.e. contributions to a safe and secure community);

j) Sports (i.e. contributions to the awareness of and participation in sports activity and/or demonstrated excellence within a particular sports activity); 

k) Distinguished Londoner (i.e. outstanding contribution to community collaboration or acts of good will by giving back to our City); or

l) Outstanding London Ambassador (i.e. brings a positive national and international recognition to London).

4.2 Nominating Committees/Organizations

The following Committees/Organizations shall nominate individuals in the respective categories:

a) Accessibility – Accessibility Community Advisory Committee;

b) Age Friendly – Age Friendly London Network;

c) Arts – London Arts Council;

d) Diversity, Race Relations, and Inclusion – Community and Protective Services Committee;

e) Environment – Environmental Stewardship and Action Community Advisory Committee;

f)  Heritage – Community Advisory Committee on Planning;

g) Housing – Community and Protective Services Committee;

h) Humanitarianism – Community and Protective Services Committee;

i) Safety & Crime Prevention – Community and Protective Services Committee;

j) Sports – London Sports Council; and,

k) Distinguished Londoner – Each Council Member may submit one (1) name to the Mayor for consideration. The Mayor may select up to six (6) names for recommendation to Council; and

l) Outstanding London Ambassador - Each Council Member may submit one (1) name to the Mayor for consideration. The Mayor may select one (1) name for recommendation to Council. 

4.3 Conditions

The following conditions shall apply to the nomination of individuals:

a)  no more than one individual in each category shall be named in any one year, except for the category of Distinguished Londoner, subject to:

(i) an individual may not necessarily be named in each category each year;

(ii) Council may, at its sole discretion and on an exception basis, choose to recognize two individuals in any one category in a given year should the Council determine that two individuals have inseparably partnered in contributing to their respective category, thereby increasing the aggregate amount of nominees beyond the usual maximum of ten individuals to be named in any one yea;

b) the recipients shall be chosen for exceptional contributions in their respective categories;

c) the name of any one individual shall be included on the Honour List only once in their lifetime;

d) any individual currently serving as a member of any one of the Community Advisory Committees, City Council, Civic Administration or organizations referred to in 4.2 shall not be eligible for naming to the list during their term of appointment or employment with the City; and,

e) nominees being recommended by the Community Advisory Committees or organizations referred to in 4.2 shall receive at least seventy-five (75) percent of the total eligible votes on the respective Community Advisory Committee or organization.

4.4  Form of Recognition

a) The recipients shall be honoured at the first meeting of Council in January, with a reception for themselves and one guest, and presentation of an appropriately-worded certificate.

b) A plaque shall be displayed in a prominent public area of City Hall honouring those individuals named each year to the Mayor's New Year's Honour List and shall be updated annually by the City Clerk.