Medal of Military Valour

Medal of Military Valour
Reverse of the Medal of Military Valour
Awarded by the monarch of Canada
Type	Medal
Awarded for	An act of valour or devotion in the presence of the enemy.
Status	Currently awarded
Post-nominals	MMV
Statistics
Established	2 February 1993
First awarded	27 October 2006
Total awarded	55
Precedence
Next (higher)	Meritorious Service Cross
Next (lower)	Medal of Bravery
Ribbon of the Medal of Military Valour

The Medal of Military Valour (French: Médaille de la vaillance militaire) is a decoration that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the third highest award for military valour, and one of three honours for military valour gifted by the Canadian monarch, generally through his or her viceroy-in-Council. Created in 1993, the medal is presented to both living and deceased members of the Canadian Forces deemed to have carried out "an act of valour or devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy," and grants recipients the ability to use the post-nominal letters MMV.

On 2 February 1993, three decorations, including the Medal of Military Valour, were created by Queen Elizabeth II as a family of Canadian military valour decorations. The first awarding of the star was by Governor General Michaëlle Jean, on 27 October 2006; only with Canada's participation in the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan did there emerge, for the first time since 1993, circumstances wherein one could carry out actions deserving of the Medal of Military Valour.

The Medal of Military Valour is in the form of a gold medal with, on the obverse, the Royal Cypher of the reigning monarch beneath a St. Edward's Crown—symbolizing the Canadian monarch's roles as both fount of honour and Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces—and the inscription PRO VALORE. The reverse bears a maple leaf surrounded by a laurel wreath, and the name and rank of the recipientis engraved on the medal's edge.