The Grand Priory of the Knights Hospitaller in Canada is an ecumenical charitable organization. We are a national sub-jurisdiction of the international Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem with local chapters (Commanderies) in the Hamilton, London, Montreal, and Ottawa areas.
The Order was founded in the 11th century in Italy, having established a hospital in Amalfi. Later, becoming hospitaller knights, we were charged with protecting travellers to the Holy Land. The Order came to Canada in the late 1700s and reconstituted in its modern form in 1965.
Through our registered charity, the Knights Hospitaller Foundation, we support the poor and the needy by providing financial assistance to child and youth services, food banks, homeless shelters, and hospice care, and we are known to support victims of natural disasters in Canada and abroad.
The executive leadership team of the Grand Priory of Canada is comprised of:
Grand Prior
The Grand Prior is the command and administrative head of the Grand Priory. The Grand Prior's responsibility is analogous to that of a CEO.
Lieutenant Grand Prior
The Lieutenant Grand Prior acts as chairperson of the Grand Priory Council when the Grand Prior is unable and assumes the duties of the Grand Prior upon the resignation or death of the Grand Prior until such time as a new Grand Prior is appointed by the Sovereign Council.
Grand Bailiff
The Grand Bailiff is the third-ranking officer of the Grand Priory with primary responsibility for honours and awards.
Grand Chancellor
The Grand Chancellor has charge of the official seal of the Grand Priory. The Grand Chancellor is responsible for the printing of brevets and scrolls of promotion and is responsible for writing letters of welcome to new members of the Grand Priory.
Grand Marshal
The Grand Marshal directs the ceremonies of the Grand Priory and ensures, in particular, that the ceremonial aspects of an Investiture are carried out in an appropriate manner and in conformity with Order requirements.
Grand Hospitaller
The Grand Hospitaller administers the charitable giving of the Grand Priory. The Grand Hospitaller is responsible for submitting an annual report to the Grand Prior on the hospitaller activities within the Grand Priory for the previous year.
Grand Treasurer
The Grand Treasurer is the chief financial officer of the Grand Priory who receives and deposits all monies of the Grand Priory and keeps regular books of account. The Grand Treasurer disburses the funds of the Grand Priory as may be provided for by the budget or ordered by the Grand Priory Council and renders annually to the Grand Priory Council an account of all transactions and an audited financial report of the Grand Priory's funds.
The Grand Treasurer is also responsible, through the Commandery Treasurers, for the collection of annual oblations and the transfer of these to the Grand Receiver of the Common Treasurer of the Order.
Treasurer, Knights Hospitaller Foundation
The Treasurer, Knights Hospitaller Foundation is the chief financial officer of our registered charity. The Treasurer keeps all financial records and submits annual reports to the Grand Priory Council and to the government regulators.
Grand Prelate
The Grand Prelate is ordained clergy and acts as the chief spiritual officer of the Grand Priory. The Grand Prelate’s duties include officiating at all religious ceremonies of the Grand Priory.
Grand Registrar
The Grand Registrar is the chief administration officer of the Grand Priory and is responsible for maintaining a current and accurate list of all the members of the Order within the Grand Priory. The Grand Registrar sends out notices of meetings, events, and deaths within the Grand Priory.
Past Grand Prior
The immediate Past Grand Prior sits on the Grand Priory Council to give advice and share previous corporate history when necessary.
Grand Councillor
The Grand Councillors represent the Grand Priory’s interests on the Sovereign Council. There are currently two Grand Councillors.
Commander
The Commander leads the activities within a Commandery. A Commandery is a sub-jurisdiction of the Grand Priory, usually comprising a specific geographic area.
News: The Grand Priory of Canada and the London Commandery held a very successful Canadian Investiture on 18-19 October 2024 in Montreal, QC.
Members are looking forward to our 2026 Investiture to be held in Niagara Falls in October of that year.
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