Jacques Desbiens
The Ordre de Montréal Medal designates a family of circular medals. Each medal is suspended from a solid red ribbon evoking the traditional vibrant colour of the City.
The design on the obverse symbolically represents the contemporary diversity of Montréal, expressed by the lines converging on the centre, which is occupied by a stylized bird’s-eye view of the Island of Montréal. The eight distinct points, meanwhile, symbolize the city’s reach and influence, and its openness to the world.
The reverse is in the image of Montréal’s coat of arms, with each of the city’s four floral emblems occupying one-quarter of the field around the heraldic cross. The motto of Montréal, Concordia Salus (“Salvation Through Harmony”), is inscribed at the base of the insignia.
Concept evolution (2018)
The white pine symbol has been added in the centre of the reverse side of the medal according to the new Montreal flag.
In addition, the medal for the Knight rank is now worn around the neck with a red ribbon.
Materials
Commandeur (Commander) level: The medal of the rank of commander is circular in shape and made of 14K gold-plated copper. The full-size medal measures 6 cm across; the smaller medal, 1.8 cm across; and the lapel pin, 1.15 cm across.
Officier (Officer) level: The medal of the rank of officer is circular in shape and made of rhodium-plated copper, with a 14K gold-plated depiction of the Island of Montréal at its centre. The full-size medal measures 5 cm across; the smaller medal, 1.8 cm across; and the lapel pin, 1.15 cm across.
Chevalier (Knight) level: The medal of the rank of knight is circular in shape and made of rhodium-plated copper. The full-size medal is 4 cm across; the smaller medal, 1.8 cm across; and the lapel pin, 1.15 cm across.
Jacques Desbiens, industrial designer
Born in 1981 in Chicoutimi, Jacques Desbiens left the Saguenay region in 1999 for Montréal, where he studied industrial design. He graduated from Cégep du Vieux Montréal in 2003 and began his career in the city the same year. After graduation, he worked as an industrial designer with several firms in various industry sectors. His experience is extremely varied, ranging from design of showcases to structural packaging, in techniques such as plastic injection moulding and sheet-metal forming. In 2007, he founded Design ÔM, subsequently marketing a range of high-end, made-in-Québec accessories. This venture led to showings at the Salon international de design de Montréal (Montréal International Interior Design Show, or SIDIM) and the Toronto Interior Design Show (IDS) in 2010 and 2011, which brought him greater visibility. Since 2012, Mr. Desbiens has pursued his design career with a tech product development firm, while continuing to work freelance on various projects that inspire him.
