Canada Ceremonial mace

1 canada

1.1 protocol surrounding mace
1.2 history of maces
1.3 parliament of ontario

canada

crafted in 1867, mace used in legislative assembly of ontario made of copper , gold-plated. ceremonial mace of legislature fourth mace used in legislatures of upper canada , ontario.

the ceremonial maces in canadian senate , house of commons embody authority each chamber derives country s sovereign. current mace in commons fourth mace, replica of third 1 destroyed fire @ centre block in 1916.

a similar practice employed in each of provincial , territorial legislatures, mace representing sovereign s authority , power in each of respective legislatures.

protocol surrounding mace

in canada, each of legislatures follow relatively standard protocol in relation ceremonial mace; speaker of house enters following mace-bearer (normally sergeant-at-arms), subsequently sets mace on clerks table begin sitting. when sergeant-at-arms removes mace table, house has either adjourned, recessed, or been resolved committee of whole. before reigning monarch or 1 of or representatives (the governor general or 1 of lieutenant governors) may enter legislative chamber, mace must hidden view. done draping mace in heavy velvet cloth, procedure performed house pages. during election of speaker, mace removed table show house not constituted until new speaker takes chair , mace laid on table.

history of maces

the first mace used chamber of upper canada s first parliament in 1792 @ newark (now niagara-on-the-lake) , moved york (now toronto). primitive wooden mace, painted red , gilt , surmounted crown of thin brass strips. stolen american troops prize of war during battle of york of war of 1812 in 1813. mace stored @ united states naval academy @ annapolis, maryland , remained in united states until 1934 when returned ontario when president franklin roosevelt sent order congress return mace. stored @ royal ontario museum time, , located in main lobby of ontario legislative building.

a second mace introduced in 1813 , used until 1841.

the third mace not purchased until 1845. in 1849, stolen riotous mob in montreal, apparently intent upon destroying in public demonstration. fortunately rescued , returned speaker, sir allan macnab, next day. later, in 1854, mace twice rescued when parliament buildings in quebec ravaged fire. mace continued used union parliament in toronto , quebec until confederation in 1867, when taken parliament of canada in ottawa, remained in house of commons until 1916. when parliament buildings gutted fire during year, mace not saved centre block. remained tiny ball of silver , gold conglomerate.

being symbol of power , authority of legislative assembly, precedent set in 2002 severity of acts of disrespect toward mace in canada and, proxy, monarch. after keith martin, federal member of parliament esquimalt—juan de fuca, seized ceremonial mace of house of commons clerk s table on april 17, 2002, speaker of chamber ruled prima facie breach of privileges of house had occurred, , contempt of house been committed. martin not permitted resume seat until had issued formal apology bar of house, pursuant motion passed in response incident.

parliament of ontario

the ceremonial mace of parliament of ontario fourth mace used in upper canada or ontario.

the first, second , third maces used in ontario, mentioned above, , used parliament of upper canada , union parliament.

after confederation, third mace moved new parliament of dominion of canada ottawa. current mace used in legislative assembly of ontario acquired in 1867. provided charles e. zollikofer of ottawa $200. four-foot mace made of copper , richly gilded, flattened ball @ butt end. head of mace bore crown of queen victoria , in cup monogram, v.r. when succeeded edward vii in 1901, crown , cup removed , new 1 bearing edward s initials on cup installed. replaced current cup adorned in gleaming brass leaves.

through careful detective work on part of legislative assembly staff, original cup queen victoria s monogram found in royal ontario museum’s collection , returned legislature. on display in ontario legislative building.

in 2009, 2 diamonds installed in mace. diamonds gift people of ontario de beers canada mark opening of victor mine near attawapiskat in northern ontario. 3 diamonds selected first run of mine. 2 stones, 1 rough , 1 polished, set in platinum in crown of mace while third stone, polished, put on exhibit in lobby of legislative building part of display history of mace.