[4][5] The Order of Manitoba is intended to honour any current or former longtime resident of Manitoba who has demonstrated a high level of individual excellence and achievement in any field, "benefiting in an outstanding manner the social, cultural or economic well being of Manitoba and its residents";[6] it replaced in this role the Order of the Buffalo Hunt, which had more liberal standards of admission.

[7] There are no limits on how many can belong to the order, though inductions are limited to eight per year;[8] Canadian citizenship is a requirement and those who are elected or appointed members of a governmental body are ineligible as long as they hold office.

This committee then meets at least once annually to make its selected recommendations to the lieutenant governor;[11] posthumous nominations are not accepted, though an individual who dies after his or her name was submitted to the Advisory Council can still be retroactively made a Member of the Order of Manitoba.

The lieutenant governor, ex officio a Member and the Chancellor of the Order of Manitoba,[4] then makes all appointments into the fellowship's single grade of membership by an Order in Council that bears the viceroyal sign-manual and the Great Seal of the province.

The main badge consists of a gold medallion in the form of a stylized crocus—the official provincial flower—with the obverse in white enamel with gold edging, and bearing at its centre the escutcheon of the arms of Manitoba, all surmounted by a St. Edward's Crown symbolizing the Canadian monarch's role as the fount of honour.