Terms
Commemorative medals are struck from time to time to mark important anniversaries and other great occasions. In keeping with this tradition, the Golden Jubilee Medal of Queen Elizabeth II commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of Her Majesty's reign as Queen of Canada. The Medal will be awarded to Canadians who have made a significant contribution to their fellow citizens, their community or to Canada. The Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is part of the Canadian Honours System established in 1967.

Recipients
In order to have a list of recipients that is representative of all regions of Canada, various organizations were invited to propose the names of candidates for the Medal: the federal, provincial and territorial levels of government, national professional, educational and cultural organizations, military and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, veterans' groups, sports associations, and philanthropic and charitable bodies. Approximately forty-six thousand medals were distributed.

Description

Obverse
The medal carries a contemporary effigy of The Queen on the obverse. With QUEEN OF CANADA on the left and REINE DU CANADA on the right.

Reverse
The reverse features the design of a stylised maple leaf with CANADA at the bottom and the years 1952 and 2002 on the left and right of the Royal Cypher and Crown.

Ribbon
The Medal is worn suspended from a broad royal blue ribbon, with red outer stripes, double white stripes with a red central stripe.