The current City of Kingston Chain of Office
The Chain consists of a central medallion bearing the City's Coat of Arms, and 32 discs linked in a distinctive fashion. The central medallion or pendant suspended below the Chain, features the City's Coat of Arms. It is hand carved in high relief. At the base of the chain is an elongated diamond shaped cabochon of Kingston limestone that is slightly domed. The limestone piece is set in a similarly shaped silver and gold holder. The limestone pertains to Kingston's widely known and used sobriquet, 'The Limestone City'.
Proceeding upward from the cabochon of limestone, there are three discs on each side that have slender interlinks of both the inner and outer sides of the Chain. These interlinks contain a water motif in the form of waves. There are three striations in this motif which represent the three bodies of water that are in the Kingston area: Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River, and the Cataraqui River / Rideau Canal System.
On the fourth disc on each side of the Chain, there are three hand carved antique crowns on oval shaped disks. These Crowns represent the three partner municipalities (the former Township of Kingston, the former City of Kingston, and the former Township of Pittsburgh). There is a 2 mm raised border around the disc signifying the border of the new City of Kingston containing the three former municipalities. The next four discs have water motif interlinks, as described earlier, in both the inner and outer sides of the Chain.
The ninth disc on each side of the Chain is circular in shape. These discs bear the badge of the City of Kingston. It consists of a Martello Tower encircled by a garland of Maple Leaves. The Martello tower is a unique, prominent feature of Kingston's waterfront and has symbolized the City of Kingston for over 150 years. It symbolizes strength and resolve. Also, it represents Kingston's extensive military connections and its lengthy historical development. The Tower and Maple Leaves are meticulously hand carved in high relief. The disc has a raised border of 2mm.
The thirteenth disc on each side of the chain represents the theme of the three antique crowns.
At the top of the chain (which rests on the back of the person who wears the Chain), there is a single round disc which bears the Badge of the City of Kingston and is hand carved in high relief.
Following the amalgamation of the Township of Kingston, Township of Pittsburgh, and the City of Kingston to form the new City of Kingston on January 1, 1998, the Council of the new City of Kingston struck a Committee to design a new Coat of Arms. On June 27, 2000, Charles R. Maier, the Athabaska Herald from The Canadian Heraldic Authority, presented the City's new Coat of Arms, Flag, and Badge to the then Mayor, Gary Bennett at a ceremony held in Memorial Hall at Kingston's City Hall.
In 2002, the City of Kingston Council decided to retire officially the Chain of Office which was first worn by Mayor Overton Gildersleeve in November 1855. City Council struck a Committee to develop a new Chain of Office, taking into consideration the symbols of the new City. The Committee settled upon a general design including the appropriate City symbols. Kim Snyder, a distinguished Kingston goldsmith and sculptor, enhanced the design of the Chain and fashioned it out of sterling silver and plated with 18k gold.
The new Chain of Office contains elements and symbols that are unique to the City of Kingston and is a visual reminder of the City's history.
The Chain of Office is worn by the Mayor during Council meetings and on other official occasions.
