Governor General's Academic Medal
Canada's most prestigious academic award for students
Why It Matters
The Bronze Medal goes to the graduating student with the highest average at each participating secondary school. It's a widely recognised honour, although it's usually confirmed at graduation, after most admission decisions have been made.
How to Start
There's no application. Participating schools award it based on marks alone, following the Governor General's directives. Ask your guidance office how your school calculates the average, and focus on keeping your average as high as possible across all subjects.
Commitment
- High commitment: several hours a week, often with evenings, weekends or travel.
- Best starting grade: G9
- G9 - your cumulative academic record across all high school years determines eligibility.
Programs It Supports
- All Programs
Similar extracurriculars
- School Newspaper or Online Publication – Write, edit, and publish for your school community
- Ontario Youth Parliament / Provincial Parliaments – Simulate Canadian parliamentary democracy
- Philosophy / Ethics Club – Explore big questions through structured debate
- Reach for the Top – Canada's beloved fast-paced academic competition
- Shad Canada – Canada's most prestigious summer STEM and entrepreneurship program
- Library Council Organizer – Help modernize and run events in the school library
- Debate Team Judge / Mentor – Train junior students for debate tournaments
- Creative Writing Workshop – A safe space to share and critique original stories and poetry