Canadian Iaido Association

CIA Honours and Lapel Pin

The Distinguished Contribution Order

The Order consists of two classes, the Distinguished Contribution Order First Class (D.C.F.) and the Distinguished Contribution Order Second Class (D.C.S.).
Including the Canadian Iaido Association’s predecessor, Shisuikai Canada, the Canadian Iaido Association has been committed to strengthening Iaido in Canada and Canadian-Japanese cultural relations since 1980.

The creation of the Distinguished Contribution Order First Class (D.C.F.) and the Distinguished Contribution Order Second Class (D.C.S.)

The Distinguished Contribution Order is an order of merit joint-founded by ZNIR Vice-President, ZNIR Kantō Region Federation President Mr. Kato Haruo and CIA President Dr. Denton Hewgill on 1st May 2020 in accordance with the ZNIR Constitution and the British Columbia Provincial Government Non-Profit Societies Act. Under Mr. Kato Haruo’s supervision, the design of the D.C.F. Order is based on Japan’s Order of the Sacred Treasure (Zuihō-shō), which he was awarded for his excellent and long-time service as a Captain of the JASDF.

Greetings To All,
With the creation of the Canadian Iaido Association Honours system, I sincerely hope that the CIA has a sound and secure structure, that it will slowly grow, prosper, and become an organization benefit not just for the members of the association but also the entire Japanese-Canadian community. There is a traditional saying in Japan, “Life is merely as short as 50 years.”, for someone who willingly gave this cost half of their entire life with pure heart is something truly should be cherished and admired.
Let this Honours system be a foundation of motivation and innovation; a keystone for all future members to have something to commemorate their fellowship with. My congratulations to all members who have been honoured and best wishes to the association.
Kato Haruo, President of the ZNIR Kanto Region Federation 2020-05-01

The Distinguished Contribution Order First Class (D.C.F.)

The Distinguished Contribution Order First Class (D.C.F.) is the highest form of merit recognition from the Canadian Iaido Association in accordance with the British Columbia Provincial Government Non-Profit Societies Act and the ZNIR Constitution. The Distinguished Contribution Order First Class (D.C.F.) is worn, with full evening dress, dinner jacket, or morning dress; also, at the holder’s discretion, with lounge suit (during the day, etc.), but not with an overcoat. The position of the neck badge is centred in the front of the neck or tie, with the ribbon tucked under the collar. The D.C.F. is awarded to the most outstanding individuals who have performed feats of leadership to the extreme benefit not just of the association but also for Canada-Japan cultural relations. Both the silver medal and the gold maple leaf clasp are made of solid 925 Sterling Silver, and the gold maple leaf clasp is further plated with pure gold. Each medal is engraved with a serial number that represents the uniqueness of every medal. This order recognizes the recipient’s many dedicated years of selfless service for non-profit purposes. To be eligible for recommendation by the CIA President for the D.C.F. Order, a person must have significantly contributed and improved the Canadian Iaido association or Canada-Japan-Cultural-Relations with outstanding merit for a minimum of 25 years of active service. A person may only receive the D.C.F. once.

The Distinguished Contribution Order Second Class (D.C.S.)

The Distinguished Contribution Order Second Class (D.C.S.) is an intermediate level of merit decoration of the Canadian Iaido Association in accordance with the British Columbia Provincial Government Non-Profit Societies Act and the ZNIR Constitution. The Distinguished Contribution Order Second Class (D.C.S.) is a pin-on medal, made of copper plated with pure silver, with no ribbon and is worn either centred on a suit jacket’s left pocket, on the suit jacket’s lower left pocket or above the lower left pocket. It is a merit decoration awarded for long and distinguished service, to members in good standing of the Canadian Iaido Association. This order recognizes their dedicated long years of selfless service for our non-profit organization. Normally, a person must have been a CIA member for the minimum of 10 years of active service and have demonstrated dedication through their many years of service to become eligible to be recommended by the CIA President for the D.C.S. Order. A person may only receive the D.C.S. Order once.

CIA Silver Lapel Pin

A Canadian Iaido Association dojo member, upon passing an official Dan examination, will be presented with a silver CIA lapel pin. This is exclusive to members of the CIA only, and are plated with silver. The lapel pin is not only meant to be a badge of prestige – we hope practitioners will treat these pins with care and wear them as a token of their hard work and membership to the Canadian Iaido Association.