TheMeritorious Service Cross (French:Croix du service méritoire) is adecoration that is, within theCanadian system of honours, one of the twoMeritorious Service Decorations gifted by theCanadian monarch, his or her Governor-in-Council. Created in 1984, the medal is intended to recognize individuals—both Canadian and foreign—who have carried out meritorious acts bringing benefit and honour in either of two categories: military and civilian.^[1][2]

Meritorious Service Cross
Obverse of the insignia
Type	State decoration
Awarded for	An action performed in an outstanding manner that brings great benefit or honour to theCanadian Forces or toCanada.
Presented by	Themonarch of Canada
Post-nominals	MSC (English) CSM (French)
Status	Currently awarded
Established	11 June 1984 (military division) 6 June 1991 (civil division)
Total	186
Ribbon bars of the Meritorious Service Cross (MSC with Bar on right); military division at top, civil division at bottom
Precedence
Next (higher)	Star of Courage
Next (lower)	Medal of Military Valour

The Meritorious Service Cross, for both divisions, is in the form of aGreek cross with the arms 38 mm across, the ends splayed and rounded, alaurel wreath visible between them, and aSt. Edward's Crown, as a symbol of theCanadian monarch's role as thefount of honour,^[3] capping the top arm. At the cross' centre, on the obverse, is a roundel bearing a maple leaf, and on the reverse are two concentric circles, the inner one containing an etchedRoyal Cypher of the reigning monarch, and the outer one engraved with the wordsMERITORIOUS SERVICE MÉRITOIRE.

This medallion is worn on the left chest, on a 32 mm wide, blue and white ribbon; however, that for the military division has only two white stripes, each 6 mm wide and centred on the outer third of each side of the ribbon, while that for the civilian division has an additional 1 mm wide white stripe centred between the other two. For men, the cross is hung from a bar, and for women, on a ribbon bow, both pinned to the left chest.^[2] Individuals awarded a second Meritorious Service Cross are granted amedal bar, in silver and bearing a central maple leaf, for wear on the ribbon from which the original medal is suspended.^[2]

On 11 June 1984,^[2] QueenElizabeth II, on the advice of herCabinet underPrime MinisterPierre Trudeau, created the Meritorious Service Cross to recognize highly professional acts that are of considerable benefit to theCanadian Forces; the civilian division was then added on 6 June 1991 (though applicable retroactively to 1984), honouring similar acts—whether in athletics, diplomatic relations, humanitarian activities, etc.—that benefit the nation.^[1] Any person, living or deceased, may be nominated for the medal: the military division is awarded to members of the Canadian Forces, or of any foreign military allied with Canada, and nominations come from commanding officers; the civilian division is open to both Canadians and foreigners, and nominations may be submitted by any person.^[4] In all cases, however, the event being recognized must have taken place in Canada or involved Canadian citizens.

An award enables recipients to use thepost-nominal lettersMSC (in French:CSM). As of March 2020, the Meritorious Service Cross has been presented to 410 people; 224^[5] have been awarded in the military division and 187^[6] in the civilian, withChris Hadfield having been awarded one in each category.

• Meritorious Service Medal (Canada)
• Canadian order of precedence (decorations and medals)
• State decoration

• Robertson, Megan C."C > Canada > Orders, Decorations and Medals of Canada > Meritorious Service Cross (Civil)".
• Robertson, Megan C."C > Canada > Orders, Decorations and Medals of Canada > Meritorious Service Cross (Military)".