The Order of St. John in Canada

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The Canadian Branch of the Order began informally in 1883, when the inaugural first aid course was held in Quebec City. In March 1895, Canada’s Deputy Surgeon General, George Sterling Ryerson, was authorized by the Grand Priory to establish a branch of the St. John Ambulance Association in Canada. The Order’s first Canadian ambulance division was established in London, Ontario in 1909.

(Source: The Canadian Honours System by Dr. Christopher McCreery)

The growth of the Order of St. John and its foundations in Canada was of a spontaneous nature, largely the result of St. John workers who had emigrated to Canada from England, bringing their interest in first aid with them.

In 1910 and 1911 a major reorganization took place in the work of St. John Ambulance in Canada. The newly formed Canadian “Branch” saw one of its tasks to be that of extending the scope and increasing the efficiency of the Association by organizing it on a regional basis, thus developing local interest in its activities. This was to be done by establishing Provincial Councils in every province of Canada, which would be responsible for administering local centers already active within the province as well as promoting the formation of new centres.

With this new found growth, in 1911 the creation of a Canadian District of the Brigade Overseas took place. The Canadian Headquarters of the Brigade Overseas was located in Toronto until 1933, when the formation of the Commandery in Canada of the Order, it was moved to Ottawa.

The Canadian Brigade Overseas took on an international role during WWI and WWII with its involvement with the Voluntary Aid Detachments. Over the years the increase in St. John activity led to the creation in 1934 of the Commandery of the Order in Canada, which in 1946 was elevated to a Priory.

Source: The White Cross in Canada 1883-1983 by Strome Galloway, Centennial Edition

The Priory of Canada is Born

During WWII, the response of St. John Ambulance in every Dominion and colony of the British Empire was enthusiastic, immediate, and lasting. In recognition of the many services that had been performed during the war by the Brigade Overseas, the St. John organizations in various Dominions were accorded increased status. In 1939 there had existed outside the British Isles only three Commanderies of the Grand Priory – Canada, South Africa and New Zealand. In 1946, His Majesty King George VI approved the raising of the Commandery of Canada to the status of a Priory.

September 16, 1946, was the date on which the Commandery of Canada officially became “The Priory of Canada of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem”. With the change in status, His Excellency, the Governor General, Viscount Alexander of Tunis, became the first Prior of the Order in Canada.

Source: The White Cross in Canada 1883-1983 by Strome Galloway, Centennial Edition

The Priory of Canada Today

The Priory of Canada is the second largest establishment in the Order of St. John, following the Priory of England.

The Priory supports the mission of the Order of St. John through the work carried out by the St. John Ambulance Foundation and the St. John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem St. John Ambulance is in the forefront of providing first aid training and medical assistance to people in need. During the deadly SARS outbreak that killed 44 people in Toronto in 2003, St. John volunteers provided medical assistance at hospitals, clinics and community centres. When forest fires spread through Kelowna and the interior of British Columbia, more than 50,000 people were evacuated. In the face of massive property loss and untold human suffering, volunteers from St. John Ambulance assisted with the evacuations and provided medical supplies and services.

Our commitment to the St. John Eye Hospital is realized by providing funding to support the services of a pediatric eye specialist.

Organization and Governance

The Priory of Canada is governed by a Prior, Priory Chapter and Priory Council. The Governor General of Canada is the Prior of the Order of St. John in Canada and serves in the capacity of Chief Officer of the Order. All appointments to the Order of St. John are sanctioned by the Governor General on behalf of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Canada, the Sovereign Head of the Order. The Lieutenant Governors of each province serve as Vice-Priors for the Order.

Priory Chapter is the governing body of the members of the incorporation known as the Priory of Canada and represents the members of the Order in Canada. All members of Priory Chapter must be members of the Order in Canada. There are two classes of members, voting and non-voting (honourary members).

Priory Council is responsible for developing a vision for the Priory and must provide strong national leadership including but not limited to the direction to Provincial Councils.

The membership of Priory Council, which serves the role of the Board of Directors, includes the Chancellor, the Deputy Chancellor and three Vice-Chancellors along with the Chair of each Provincial Council.

The Chancellor is the principal elected officer of the Priory of Canada and is the equivalent of a Chairman of a Board of Directors.

The Chancellor, the CEO National Office, St. John Ambulance and the Priory Secretary are responsible for the day-to-day activities of the Priory and are accountable to Priory Chapter.