Usher of the Black Rod of the Senate of Canada
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The Usher of the Black Rod of the Senate of Canada is a senior protocol position in the Parliament of Canada. Black Rod leads the Speaker's Parade at the beginning of each sitting of the Senate and oversees protocol, administrative and logistical details of important events taking place on Parliament Hill, such as the opening of Parliament and Speech from the Throne ceremonies.[1] Each Canadian province's parliament has its own Black Rod, although all of these legislatures are now unicameral, which means that Black Rod appears only during visits from the Lieutenant Governors. Upon the appointment of the first woman to the position of "Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod" on October 20, 1997, the title was changed to "Usher of the Black Rod".[2]
Kevin MacLeod, CVO, CD, Chief of Protocol in the Department of Canadian Heritage, was appointed Black Rod on March 27, 2008 effective May 26, 2008.[3]
- Former Ushers of the Black Rod
- Terrance Christopher 2002–2008
- Blair Armitage (Acting) 2001–2002
- Mary C. McLaren 1997–2001
- Jean Doré 1990–1997
- Rene Gutknecht 1989–1990
- René M. Jalbert 1985–1989
- Claude G. Lajoie 1984–1985
- Thomas Guy Bowie 1979–1984
- A. Guy Vandelac 1970–1979
- Charles Rock Lamoureux 1947–1970
- Andrew Ruthven Thompson 1925–1946
- Ernest John Chambers 1904–1925
- Molyneux St. John 1902–1904
- René Edouard Kimber[4] 1875–1901
- René Kimber 1867–1875
[edit] Notes
- ^ "Ushered out", Political Bytes, CBC (2008-01-18). Retrieved on 2008-01-24.
- ^ "Officers and Officials of Parliament". Retrieved on 2008-01-24.
- ^ "PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF MR. KEVIN MACLEOD AS USHER OF THE BLACK ROD".
- ^ Replaced his father upon his retirement
