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Usher of the Black Rod (Canada)

{{Short description|Officer of the Senate of Canada}}

{{Infobox official post

|post = Usher of the Black Rod

|native_name = {{small|{{nobold|{{lang|fr|Huissier du bâton noir}}}}}}

|body =

|insignia =

|insigniasize = 240px

|insigniacaption =

|image = J. Greg Peters, Usher of the Black Rod, in the Senate Chamber.jpg

|imagesize = 150px

|incumbent = J. Greg Peters

|incumbentsince = 1 October 2013

|department = Parliament of Canada

|style =

|appointer = Governor General in Council

|appointer_qualified =

|termlength =

|termlength_qualified =

|formation = 1867

|first = René Kimber

|website = {{url|https://sencanada.ca/en/about/usher-black-rod/}}

}}

The Usher of the Black Rod ({{langx|fr|Huissier du bâton noir}}), often shortened to Black Rod is the most senior protocol position in the Parliament of Canada. Black Rod leads the Speaker's Parade at the beginning of each sitting of the Senate{{cite web| url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/process/Senate/SpeakerParade/SpeakerParade-e.htm| author=Parliament of Canada| title=The Senate Speaker's Parade| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada|access-date=26 January 2009}} and oversees protocol and administrative and logistical details of important events taking place on Parliament Hill, such as the opening of parliament and the Speech from the Throne.{{cite news| title=Ushered out| url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/politicalbytes/2008/01/post_16.html| work=Political Bytes| publisher=CBC| date=18 January 2008| access-date=24 January 2008}}{{cite journal| url=http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2008/2008-01-12/pdf/g1-14202.pdf| title=Notice of Vacancy, Usher of the Black Rod| date=12 January 2008| journal=Canada Gazette Part I| volume=142| issue=2| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada}}

The office is modelled on the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod of the House of Lords in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Upon the appointment of the first woman to the position of Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod on 20 October 1997, the title was changed to Usher of the Black Rod.{{cite web| url=http://www2.parl.gc.ca/parlinfo/compilations/OfficersAndOfficials/ProceduralOfficersAndSeniorOfficials_Senate.aspx| author=Parliament of Canada| title=Officers and Officials of Parliament| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| access-date=24 January 2008}}

The current Usher of the Black Rod is J. Greg Peters. On 12 March 2025, Peters was received by The King, where he was bestowed a new ceremonial sword.{{Cite web |date=12 March 2025 |title=At Buckingham Palace, The King has received the Usher of the Black Rod of the Senate of Canada and bestowed upon him a new ceremonial sword. |url=https://x.com/RoyalFamily/status/1899886998623592882}}

The rod

The usher carries an ebony and gold staff of office modelled on that used in the House of Lords. Canada's original rod is believed to have been made in the 1840s in Montreal for the Legislative Assembly{{Dubious|Rod from Legislative Assembly of Canada?|date=December 2020}} of the Province of Canada, and then transferred to the Senate after Confederation in 1867. Still, it was lost in the 1916 fire that destroyed Centre Block.{{cite web |title=A royal restoration of the Black Rod |url=https://sencanada.ca/en/sencaplus/how-why/a-royal-restoration-of-the-black-rod/ |website=Senate of Canada |access-date=8 December 2019 |date=October 5, 2017}} The current rod was crafted the same year by then-Crown Jeweller Garrard & Co..

The rod was snapped in half in 1967, and underwent only amateur repairs at the hands of Senator Henry Davies Hicks in his personal workshop; over the years it has additionally suffered scratching, cracking, and loss of pieces. Accordingly, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Canada in 2016, the Queen bestowed a restoration by artisans and craftspeople at Windsor Castle under the direction of Adrian Smith, L.V.O., which replaced the central ebony rod itself with a 20th-century ebony walking cane.

The top consists of a lion on its hind legs displaying a shield decorated with the royal cypher of George V of the United Kingdom, the monarch when the rod was crafted, and bearing the motto {{lang|fr|Honi soit qui mal y pense}}.{{cn|date=December 2019}} Its middle knob is made of silver with maple leaf engravings (in contrast to the oak leaves used in its UK counterpart, which is made of gold). It is engraved with the name of Queen Elizabeth II, inscribed during its restoration. The base is set with a 1904 gold sovereign, displaying St. George slaying the Dragon.

List of office holders

From 1867 to 1997, the title of the office was Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod. After the first female (Mary C. McLaren) was appointed to the position, the term gentleman was dropped from the title.

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See also

References

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External links

  • {{official|https://sencanada.ca/en/about/usher-black-rod/}}

Category:Ceremonial officers in Canada