War Trophy

War Trophy
Ontario’s first Mace was kept in the United States Naval Academy Museum in Annapolis, Maryland, along with other war trophies captured by American troops.  In 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt returned the Mace as a gesture of friendship between the two countries.  It was presented to Ontario’s then-Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable Dr. Herbert Bruce.

As an important parliamentary symbol, the return of the first Mace was a momentous occasion for Ontario.  The Mace signifies the Speaker’s authority in the House and must be present in the Chamber during all Legislative meetings.