The different iterations of the medal were presented to tens of thousands of recipients throughout the Commonwealth realms in the jubilee year.

It keeps the same black stripe in the centre like the Caribbean ribbon, the shade of red is lighter than the other three versions and the blue is replaced by the colour yellow.

[19] The Canadian medal, which is to "honour significant contributions and achievements by Canadians,"[9] is administered by the Chancellery of Honours at Rideau Hall and was awarded to 60,000 citizens and permanent residents of Canada who made a significant contribution to their fellow countrymen, their community, or to Canada over the previous sixty years.

[31][32] On Accession Day 2012, the first Canadian medals were presented to 60 recipients by the Governor General at a ceremony at Rideau Hall and to others at other locations across the country;[33][34] the Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island, Frank Lewis, awarded the medal to six persons at a ceremony at Government House.

[36] Bloc MP Maria Mourani did so because she felt the medal was a "symbol of colonisation" and to accept it would be offensive to her belief in Quebec sovereignty,[37] while Louis Plamondon stated the money being spent by the Crown on jubilee events and markers was a waste.

[38] NDP MP Pierre Nantel stated his then four months in the House of Commons did not warrant such recognition and it should go to a more deserving constituent in his riding.

[39] It was reported in April 2012 that some recipients of the British medal had been criticised for offering their awards for sale on eBay,[19] while ex servicemen and women, the Merchant Navy, and St. John Ambulance were angered at being overlooked due to the "economic climate.

"[40] Recognising that "some people and organisations might be disappointed," a government spokesman said: "It is also important to maintain the integrity and exclusivity of the medal, and it is simply not possible to include all these groups.