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Know Your Mace: Prince Edward island
Ryan Reddin

On September 10, 1964, in Charlottetown, those in attendants at the Canadian Area Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association unanimously resolved to mark the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the meeting of the Fathers of Confederation by presenting, on behalf of the provincial and federal branches of the CPA, a Mace to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island. To that end, a committee composed of the Speakers of the Senate, House of Commons, Ontario and Quebec was appointed to make arrangements for the design and presentation of a suitable Mace.

The committee chose the design submitted by Canadian company Henry Birks and Sons Ltd., and the Mace was presented to the Legislative Assembly in a special ceremony on February 24, 1966, in Province House. Prior to this, PEI did not have a Mace.

The Mace is approximately four and a half feet tall and weighs 10 pounds. It is made of gold-plated silver. The crests of the 10 provinces encircle the Mace just below its crown. Below those crests, engravings show the Coat of Arms of Canada and set forth the donors of the Mace. PEI’s provincial flower, the Lady’s Slipper, is engraved in several places.

When the Mace is placed upon the Table, PEI’s crest always faces up.

Ryan Reddin

Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island