Awarded annually since 1951, it is given to "a person who has made an outstanding contribution to the science of chemistry or chemical engineering in Canada".
[1] The medal is presented at the annual Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition or Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference, at which the recipient gives a plenary lecture.
[2] The award commemorates the isolation of nickel by Frederik Cronstedt in 1751.
The medals were originally sponsored by the International Nickel Company and consisted of 8 ounces (227g) of pure palladium.
The sponsorship ended in 2006, since when the medals have been made of silver plated nickel.