Editing Saskatchewan Order of Merit (section)

==Structure and appointment==
The Saskatchewan Order of Merit is intended to honour any Canadian citizen currently or formerly resident in Saskatchewan who has demonstrated a high level of individual excellence and achievement in any field, improving the "social, cultural and economic well-being of the province and its residents"; the process of finding such individuals begins with call for nominations put out each spring by the Saskatchewan Honours Advisory Council.<ref name=CE /> There are no limitations on population, but only ten new members may be created each year.<ref name=CE />

After the annual call for nominations,<ref name=CE /> the Saskatchewan Honours Advisory Council makes its recommendations to the lieutenant governor. Posthumous nominations are accepted within one year of the date of death, and in 2001 the Provincial Emblems and Honours Act was amended to allow for honorary membership in the order,<ref name=SOM /> granted to those who are neither current nor former residents of Saskatchewan; [[Prince Charles, Prince of Wales]], was the first honorary member of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, appointed on 24 April 2001.<ref>{{cite press release| title=Prince of Wales Honoured| publisher=Queen's Printer for Saskatchewan| date=24 April 2001| url=http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=b83f82e7-4131-45d5-ae82-a29a6918106d| access-date=16 August 2009}}</ref> The [[lieutenant governor of Saskatchewan]], who is {{lang|la|ex officio}} a member and the chancellor of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit and remains a member following his or her departure from viceregal office,<ref>{{Harvnb| Elizabeth II| 1988| loc=15}}</ref> then makes all appointments into the fellowship's single grade of membership by [[letters patent]] bearing the [[Royal sign-manual|viceroyal sign-manual]] and the Great Seal of the province;<ref>{{Harvnb| Elizabeth II| 1988| loc=18}}</ref> thereafter, the new members are entitled to use the [[post-nominal letters]] ''SOM'' and have their portrait added to the Athabasca Gallery at the [[Saskatchewan Legislative Building]].<ref name=SOM>{{cite web| url=http://www.ops.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=a4e9e20b-d74e-423c-8128-e53107c610c6| last=Office of the Provincial Secretary| title=About OPS > Protocol Office > Saskatchewan Honours and Awards Program > Saskatchewan Order of Merit| publisher=Queen's Printer for Saskatchewan| access-date=16 August 2009}}</ref>