For centuries decorative chains of office have been worn throughout the world as a symbol of the authority, dignity and responsibility of a civic office. The mayors of the City of Halifax, City of Dartmouth and Town of Bedford each had a chain of office. Continue reading or use the links above to learn about each chain. The Municipality of the County of Halifax was headed by a Warden until 1992 when it received a Charter and the warden became a mayor. County Council was considering purchasing a chain for their mayor, but amalgamation intervened and the position ceased to exist after 1996.
When all of these municipalities were amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996 the first mayor, Walter Fitzgerald, and all subsequent mayors continued to wear the City of Halifax chain of office with the addition of a large badge with the new HRM crest.
City of Halifax Mayor’s Chain of Office, 1901
The City of Halifax chain of office has been worn on ceremonial occasions by the mayors of the City of Halifax, and later Halifax Regional Municipality, since it was acquired in 1901. The chain of office is worn during formal civic ceremonies and resides in a display case in the Mayor’s Office.
The main pendant on the chain of office has the coat of arms of Canada, of Nova Scotia (which has since changed), and of Halifax along with small mayflies surrounding the exterior crest and the dates 1749 and 1901. 1749 was the date of the founding of Halifax and 1901 was when the chain of office was ordered from Mappins Brothers in England. According to a 1901 newsclipping the chain of office originally included "a chain of medallions waiting for the record of future mayors". This additional chain was later removed as it can be seen in photos of the chain only until 1955.
Mayor William E. Donovan, wearing robe and chain, 1942 (crop from composite 102-1P.007)
Mayor J. E. Ahern wearing robe and chain, 1949 (crop from composite 102-1P.004)
Mayor Richard A. Donahoe wearing robe, hat and chain, 1952 (crop of composite102-1P.005)
Mayor Fitzgerald in his mayoral robes and chain of office, February 1973. 102-3-7-6-5
Mayor Ron Wallace wearing the chain and standing beside Town Crier Peter Cox in Halifax Hall, 1986. CR30D.142.1
Mayor Walter Fitzgerald receiving chain-of-office at his swearing-in ceremony, November 7th, 1994. 102-5-1-6-2
Alderman Pat Pottie and Mayor Moira Ducharme at reception in Mayor's Office after his swearing-in, 1993. 102-5-1-13.3-6
Mayor Moira Ducharme, 1992. 102-5-1-87.2
Mayor's chain of office hanging in case in mayor's office, 1993. 102-5-1-13.3-7
Dubious Origins of the City of Halifax Chain of Office
The origin story of the City of Halifax chain of office is a lesson in the trustworthiness of historical evidence. According to a brochure that would have been distributed to visitors to the Council Chamber in the 1970s, the chain of office was presented to the City of Halifax by the City of Bristol, England, in 1901 because “the Lord Mayor [of Bristol] and his party visited Halifax and were so impressed with the hospitality extended to them, that as a corporate gift from his own City of Bristol he presented the Chain of Office".
City Hall Brochure giving version of chain's history, 1975. 102-144
However, City Clerk Ed Kerr and historian Lou Collins uncovered the true origin of the chain of office by examining the City Council minutes of 1901. During the summer of 1901, Halifax was preparing for a royal visit from the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (later King George V and Queen Mary). The Duke and Duchess were to tour the British Empire, beginning with Halifax on October 19th, 1901. City of Halifax Mayor James Hamilton discovered that other mayors across Canada would be wearing official robes and chains of office when greeting the royals, and requested that the Special Committee for the royal reception purchase a chain and replace the 40-year-old mayoral robes. The Committee discussed purchasing a robe and chain at length, but did not reach a decision. With the visit fast approaching, an alderman who happened to be in England ordered a chain from Mappins Brothers on August 23. City Council was asked on August 26 to authorize the purchase of a robe and chain, but the motion was defeated 7 to 4.
Descriptions of the royal reception on October 19th do not mention the Mayor wearing a new chain, but the accounts of the Special Committee show a payment of $412.71 for the chain, putting it over the $3000 budget for the reception. In defense of the expense, the Mayor said the City should agree to pay for things such as the chain as it will continue to be an asset of the City.
When Council was asked again on October 24th to pay for the chain, some aldermen said the motion was out-of-order because of the August vote against the purchase and suggested that the chain be returned to Mappin Brothers. Eventually Council did vote 13 to 2 to pay the bill. In 1902, Adam Crosby, who consistently voted against paying for the chain, became Mayor. We note he was not wearing the chain of office in his portrait taken for the 1903 City Council photograph.
Town/City of Dartmouth Mayor's Chain of Office, 1959
Town Council minutes for August 28, 1959 record the presentation of the chain of office to then Mayor I.W. Akerley by Town Historian John P. Martin. The chain continued to be used until Dartmouth was amalgamated into the Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996.
The chain is mounted on a blue velvet oval yoke with 25 brass circular medallions, 14 of them inscribed with the names and dates of Dartmouth mayors from "W.S. Symonds, 1873-1874" to "Gloria McCluskey, 1992-[blank]". There are 2 crest-shaped medallions, all connected by chains. A medallion in the centre bottom reads "City of Lakes Incorporated 1961" with the Nova Scotia crest and the City of Dartmouth crest connected below. See more details on the Dartmouth chain.
Dartmouth mayor's chain of office (101-93-049)
Dartmouth's last City Council with Mayor Gloria McCluskey wearing chain of office, 1995. (101-2L-4)
Town of Bedford Mayor's Chain of Office, 1980
Bedford formally became a town on July 1, 1980 - Incorporation Day. A council and mayor had been elected the previous fall so they had time to request local jeweller Don Bell to design and create a chain of office for the mayor. On the Day of Incorporation, jeweller Bell carried the chain on a blue velvet pillow into the auditorium at Charles P. Allen High School, where it was presented to Mayor Francene Cosman.
It is a chain of 20 sterling silver shield medallions with braid border and clam shell motif separated by ornamental segments. The name and term for each mayor is etched on four of the medallions, from Francene J. Cosman, 1979-1982 to Peter J. Kelly, 1991-1996. There is a sterling silver pin with the Town's crest that can be worn separately. A wood display case was made by R. Duffus in 1982.
The Bedford chain has been displayed at the Scott Manor House in Bedford off and on since it ceased to be used after amalgamation in 1996. See more details on the Bedford chain of office.
Town of Bedford Mayor's chain of office and crest (103-15.012.2)
Bedford chain in display case in Mayor Peter Kelly's office in the Bedford Administration Building, 1996, (103-1D-5)
Francene Cosman mayoral portrait by Sherman Hines, 198? (103-15.008)
Peter Kelly mayoral portrait, 1992 by Carlos Cacola (103-15.011)
To find the names of the men and women who have worn these chains of office over the years, consult the Halifax Municipal Archives' Lists of Elected Officials.