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Canada's Deep Crown

Available from University of Toronto Press

The Crown in Canada has had a profound influence in shaping a country and a constitution that embraces the promotion of political moderation, societal accommodation, adaptable constitutional structures, and pluralistic governing practices. While none of these features themselves originated through legislative or constitutional action, David E. Smith, Christopher McCreery, and Jonathan Shanks propose that all reflect the presence and actions of the Crown.
 

Examining how constitutional monarchy functions, Canada’s Deep Crown discusses how the legal and institutional abstraction of the Crown varies depending on the circumstances and the context in which it is found. The Crown presents differently depending on who is observing it, who is representing it, and what role it is performing. With a focus on the changes that have taken place over the last fifty years, this book addresses the role of the Crown in dispersing power throughout Canada’s system of government, the function the Sovereign, governor general, and lieutenant governors play, and how the demise of the Crown and transition to a new Sovereign will unfold.

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My Story
About the author

Christopher McCreery holds a doctorate in Canadian political history from Queen’s University and is the author of more than a dozen books, including two best-sellers. He has served as private secretary to the lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia since 2009 and was responsible for the setting up of Government House following the restoration of the building.

 

From 2012 to 2018, he served as a member of the board of trustees of the Canadian Museum of History/Canadian War Museum, is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society,  Royal Canadian Geographical Society and Royal Heraldry Society of Canada, and is one of the Commonwealth’s foremost experts on the vice-regal offices, honours and symbols. In 2010 he was invested as a Member of the Royal Victorian Order by The Queen at Government House, Halifax.

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My Books

The Order of Canada
2nd edition

More Info

Fifty Years Honouring Canadians

More Info

The Canadian Honours System, 2nd edition

More Info
Books
Books
OC 2nd Ed.png

The Order of Canada
2nd edition

OC 50th Cover.jpg
CHS2 Cover.png

The Canadian Honours System

 2nd edition

Rideau Club.jpg

Savoir Fair, Savoir Vivre:
The Rideau Club

Canadian Commemorative Medals.jpg

Commemorative Medals of
The Queen's Reign in Canada

ORMM.jpg

The Order of Military Merit

Symbols.jpg

Canadian Symbols of Authority

RCMP.jpg

Maintiens Le Droit

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The Canadian Forces' Decoration

Bennett.jpg

The Authentic Voice of Canada

More Info
OHMS.jpg

On Her Majesty's Service

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La Feuille d'Erable et la Croix Blanche.

The Maple Leaf and the White Cross

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The Beginner's Guide to
Canadian Honours

Chapters & Articles

Selected Chapters & articles

Edited works which include chapters by Christopher McCreery

A Resilient Crown

Chapter 9 "The Spare Fire Extinguisher; The Administrator of the Government of Canada" pp. 149-176.

St Laurent

Chapter 15 "The Politics of St-Laurent on the Crown, Rituals and Symbols" pp. 314-355.

JPPL

J.P.P.L. 13 "Not the Governor Generals Choice: Canadian Honours and the Butler-Pitfield Principles" pp. 67-80.

The Canadian Kingdom

Chapter 8 "The Vulnerability of Vice-Regal Offices in Canada" pp. 156-178.

The Crown and Parliament

Chapter 9 "Subtle yet significant innovations: The Advisory Committee on Vice-Regal Appointments and the Secretary's new powers" pp. 241-262.

Canada and the Crown

Chapter 10 "The Provincial Crown: The Lieutenant Governor's Expanding Role" pp. 141-169. Chapter 13 "Confidant and Chief of Staff: The Governor's Secretary" pp. 197-218.

Evolving Canadian Crown

Chapter 3 "Myth and Misunderstanding: The Origins and Meaning of the Letters Patent Constituting the Office of the Governor General, 1947" pp. 31-56. Chapter 9 "The Crown and Honours: Getting it Right" pp. 139-154.

Laurier Book

Part III-5 "Tribute to Queen Victoria, 1901" pp. 265-274.

Click the icon below for The companion site About the Order of Canada and its History
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Books
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Government House Halifax 

OC 50th Cover.jpg

Fifty Years Honouring Canadians

Canadian Commemorative Medals.jpg

Commemorative Medals of
The Queen's Reign in Canada

CD Book.jpg

The Canadian Forces' Decoration

OHMS.jpg

On Her Majesty's Service

OC 2nd Ed.png

The Order of Canada
2nd edition

CHS2 Cover.png

The Canadian Honours System

 2nd edition

Rideau Club.jpg

Savoir Fair, Savoir Vivre:
The Rideau Club

Symbols.jpg

Canadian Symbols of Authority

ORMM.jpg

The Order of Military Merit

RCMP.jpg

Maintiens Le Droit

St. John Cover.jpg
La Feuille d'Erable et la Croix Blanche.

La Feuille d'Erable  et la Croix Blanche

The Maple Leaf and the White Cross

Bennett.jpg

The Authentic Voice of Canada

Beginners Guide.jpg

The Beginner's Guide to
Canadian Honours

Order of Canada 50
Books 1.jpg
Book List 2.jpg
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