OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 11/09/12 -- His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, will present the insignia of Officer of the Order of Canada to a member of the Klein family, during a ceremony on Tuesday, November 13, 2012, at 11:30 a.m. (MST) in the Calgary Power Reception Hall, at Historic City Hall, Calgary, Alberta. Mr. Klein was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada on May 24, 2012. His citation is as follows:

                          Ralph Klein, O.C., A.O.E.                         
                              Calgary, Alberta                              
                       Officer of the Order of Canada                       

Ralph Klein has made lasting contributions to the province of Alberta and to public life in Canada. He served three consecutive terms as mayor of Calgary, during which time the city hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics and created a legacy of sports facilities and municipal infrastructure. He later rose to become Alberta's 12th premier, leading his province with a common touch and broad appeal through an era of economic advancement, innovation and prosperity that ultimately resulted in the elimination of the province's deficit.

A backgrounder on the Order of Canada is attached. For more information about the Canadian Honours System, please visit our website at www.gg.ca/honours.

Media interested in covering this event are asked to contact the City of Calgary Mayor's Office to confirm their attendance and to receive additional logistical details.

Confirmed media must arrive and be in place in the Calgary Power Reception Hall no later than 11:15 a.m., on the day of the event.

ORDER OF CANADA BACKGROUNDER

Established in 1967 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Order of Canada is the centrepiece of the Canadian Honours System, and recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. The Order recognizes people in all sectors of Canadian society. Their contributions are varied, yet they have all enriched the lives of others and made a difference to this country.

Motto and Levels

The Order of Canada's motto is DESIDERANTES MELIOREM PATRIAM (They desire a better country). Her Majesty The Queen is the Sovereign of the Order, and the governor general is the chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order.

Companion - Post-nominal: C.C.

Recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement and merit of the highest degree, especially in service to Canada or to humanity at large

Officer - Post-nominal: O.C.

Recognizes a lifetime of achievement and merit of a high degree, especially in service to Canada or to humanity at large

Member - Post-nominal: C.M.

Recognizes a lifetime of distinguished service in or to a particular community, group or field of activity

Insignia Description

The insignia of the Order is a stylized snowflake of six points, with a red annulus at its centre, which bears a stylized maple leaf circumscribed with the motto of the Order, DESIDERANTES MELIOREM PATRIAM (They desire a better country), surmounted by St. Edward's Crown.

Eligibility

All Canadians are eligible for the Order of Canada, with the exception of federal and provincial politicians and judges while in office. The Order's constitution permits non-Canadians to be considered for honorary appointments. They may be considered for outstanding achievement that reflects honour on Canada and/or lifetime contributions to humanity at large. There are no posthumous appointments.

Officers and Members may be elevated within the Order in recognition of further achievement, based on continued exceptional or extraordinary service to Canada. Usually, promotions are considered five years after the first appointment.

Nominations

Any person or group is welcome to nominate a deserving individual as a candidate for appointment to the Order of Canada. Appointments are made on the recommendations of the Advisory Council for the Order of Canada, an independent council chaired by the chief justice of Canada. Members of the Advisory Council on the Order of Canada reflect the diversity and excellence in Canadian society. Certain members are appointed by virtue of their office; others are appointed for a fixed term to achieve a balanced representation of the various regions of the country.