During the Middle Ages, the metal-clad wooden mace was an effective weapon in battle. As newer and more powerful arms were developed, its military significance diminished, and it was transformed into a symbol of authority. Today, the ceremonial mace is used in many government assembly locations, such as the British and Canadian Houses of Parliament, and is carried before ecclesiastical dignitaries and in university ceremonies such as this.
The mace used for VIU’s convocation was designed and created by retired art instructor John A. Charnetski in 1994. The metre-long mace is made of stainless steel and gold-plated cast bronze. It features four guardian eagles and enameled medallions bearing VIU’s coat of arms and arbutus emblems. At the convocation ceremonies, the mace is carried by a retiring member the VIU community to honour his or her contribution to the University.
Past Macebearers
The following Vancouver Island University employees have carried the mace in past ceremonies:
| Date | Macebearer |
|---|---|
| June 2022 | Tim Goater, Les Malbon, Steven Purse |
| June 2021 | Tina McComb |
| September 2020 | Sheila Cooper |
| January 2020 | Steve Lane, Donald Noakes, Janet Sinclair |
| June 2019 | Kate Challenger, Janeane MacGillivray, Carol Desilets, John Lepage, David Witty, Debbie Shore |
| February 2019 | Tracy Gillis, Graham Pike |
| June 2018 | Patrick Carpenter, Andrea Smilski, Janina Hornosty, Dave Twynam, Harry Janzen, Gordon Buzzard |
| February 2018 | Neil Macmillan, Bernie Krynowsky |
| June 2017 | Brenda Sully; Patrick Konkin; Katharina Rout; John Black; Dana Collette; Stephanie Richards |
| January 2017 | Jim Ketelsen; Richard Dunstan |
| November 2016 | Ruth Kroek |
| June 2016 | Philomena Williams; Virginia MacCarthy; Don Cohen; Brock Dykeman; Jane Watson; Tricia Abbott; Gary Doolin |
| January 2016 | Bryan Stovell; Patricia Eagar |
| June 2015 | Linda Byrnes; Dr. Ken Hammer; Don Tillapaugh; Dr. Frances Sprout; Stu Seifert |
| January 2015 | Keith Harrison; Wayne Hiles |
| June 2014 | Janet Allan; John Anderson; Liz Haamond-Kaarremma; Darrel Mansbridge; Rick Rollins |
| January 2014 | Steve Jones; Jane Kelly |
| June 2013 | Allan Warnke; Diny van Beers; Jean Tonski; Linda McDonell; Fred MacDonald |
| January 2013 | Vanessa Oltmann; Mike Armstrong |
| June 2012 | Stephanie Buckingham; Rhonda Bailey; Maria Gomes |
| February 2012 | Gary Tunnell; David Drakeford |
June 2011 | Carolyn Bowles; Robert Pfister; Glenda Sharpe |
| January 2011 | Pam Montgomery; Malerie Meeker; Barbara McLeod |
| June 2010 | Mike Mann; Bill McMillan; John Neville |
| January 2010 | Marshall Soules; Nancy Randall |
| June 2009 | Helen Brown; Neil Smith; Rick Monaghan |
| December 2008 | Patrick Ross |
| June 2008 | Roger Prior; Erika Blakeman; Ron Bonham |
| December 2007 | Wendy Kellet |
| June 2007 | Allan Hawryzki; Jamie Brennan; Kathryn Barnwell |
| 2006 | Ron Apland; Bill Pennell; Marianne van Toor; Robin Field |
| 2005 | Joanne Whiting; Rob Jeacock; Anne Erickson |
| 2004 | Bill Juby; Norman Duncan; Andra Thakur |
| 2003 | Ray Peter; David Smith; Sue Benoit |
| 2002 | Mike Matthews; Greg Link; Chuck & Geri Reamer |
| 2001 | John Dennison; Sheila Colbert-Kerns |
| 2000 | Gwyneth Evans; Jim Slater; Les Dickason; Ross Fraser |
| 1999 | Carol Matthews |
| 1998 | Gary Bauslaugh |
| 1997 | Ed Hong |
| 1996 | Catherine Whiteley; Gordon Squire |
| 1995 | Stan Fukawa |
| 1994 | John Charnetski |