Terrance Christopher

Last updated

Terrance Christopher, OMM, LVO, CD is a retired Canadian Naval Officer and former Usher of the Black Rod for the Senate of Canada, the most senior protocol office in Parliament. [1]

Born in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, [1] Christopher graduated from St. Francis Xavier University and the Maritime School of Social Work before joining the Royal Canadian Navy [1] rising to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander. He served on HMCS Stadacona, HMCS Cornwallis, CFB Borden and at NATO. [1] His naval service is most notable for his work on expanding education and training services in the navy. Retiring in 1994, he briefly entered the private sector before becoming head of the Canadian government's VIP reception services.

He became Usher of the Black Rod on December 9, 2002, [1] and his term expired on March 8, 2008, after having been extended for three months to allow the government to find a new Usher. Christopher had asked to be reappointed for a full term, but his request was denied by the government. [2]

He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Military Merit in 1982. In 1994, he was made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Rod</span> Parliamentary official in several Westminister-based parliaments

The Usher of the Black Rod is an official in the parliaments of several countries of the Commonwealth of Nations. The title is often shortened to the Black Rod, and in some countries, formally known as the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod if male or, Lady Usher of the Black Rod if female. The position originates in the House of Lords of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Equivalent positions also exist in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Canadian Navy</span> Maritime warfare branch of Canadas military

The Royal Canadian Navy is the naval force of Canada. The RCN is one of three environmental commands within the Canadian Armed Forces. As of 2023, the RCN operates 12 frigates, four attack submarines, 12 coastal defence vessels, eight patrol-class training vessels, two offshore patrol vessels, and several auxiliary vessels. The RCN consists of 8,400 Regular Force and 4,100 Primary Reserve sailors, supported by 3,800 civilians. Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee is the commander of the Royal Canadian Navy and chief of the Naval Staff.

The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces. Over the course of its history, the RCN has played a role in the First World War, contributed significantly to the Battle of the Atlantic during the Second World War, and was a part of NATO's force buildup during the Cold War. In 1968, the RCN was amalgamated with the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force to form what is today the unified Canadian Armed Forces. The naval force was known as Maritime Command until 2011, when the environmental command was renamed as the Royal Canadian Navy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Canadian Sea Cadets</span> Military unit

The Royal Canadian Sea Cadets is a Canadian national youth program sponsored by the Canadian Armed Forces and the civilian Navy League of Canada. Administered by the Canadian Forces, the program is funded through the Department of National Defence, with the civilian partner providing support in the local community. Cadets are not members of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Gentleman Usher and Lady Usher are titles for some officers of the Royal Household of the United Kingdom. For a list of office-holders from the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660 up to the present day see List of Lady and Gentleman Ushers.

Admiral Sir William Richard Scott Thomas was the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod in the British Parliament's House of Lords from January 1992 to 8 May 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Murray</span>

Vice-Admiral Lawrence Edward Murray is a retired Canadian civil servant, naval officer and former acting chief of the Defence Staff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leonard W. Murray</span> Canadian admiral in WW II (1896–1971)

Rear Admiral Leonard Warren Murray, CB, CBE was an officer in the Royal Canadian Navy who played a central role in the Battle of the Atlantic, and was the only Canadian to command an Allied theatre of operations during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Percy W. Nelles</span>

Admiral Percy Walker Nelles, was a flag officer in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and the Chief of the Naval Staff from 1 January 1934 to 15 January 1944. He oversaw the massive wartime expansion of the RCN and the transformation of Canada into a major player in the Battle of the Atlantic. During his tenure U-boats raided the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canadian Northwest Atlantic command was created, and the RCN provided up to 40% of all escort forces in the North Atlantic. His handling of the RCN's war effort had its opponents however, and he was removed from his post as Chief of the Naval Staff in January 1944. He was sent to London as Overseas Naval Attaché, coordinating RCN operations for Operation Overlord. He retired in January 1945 as a full admiral.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry DeWolf</span>

Vice Admiral Henry George DeWolf was a Canadian naval officer who was famous as the first commander of HMCS Haida during the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin S. MacLeod</span> Canadian civil servant

Kevin Stewart MacLeod is a former Canadian Secretary to the Queen of Canada, former Usher of the Black Rod for the Canadian Senate, and the author of the historical fiction novel, A Stone on Their Cairn / Clach air An Càrn.

Rear-Admiral William Moss Landymore, OBE, CD was a Canadian naval officer. Born in Brantford, Ontario, Landymore joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1936, but spent much of early career training with the Royal Navy. During World War II, Landymore returned to the Royal Canadian Navy and served aboard destroyers in the Battle of the Atlantic, surviving two sinkings. By the end of the war Landymore had taken a series of positions in Ottawa before returning to destroyer command during the Korean War. He was promoted through the ranks eventually becoming the first Commander of Maritime Command. Landymore became embroiled in a public feud with the Minister of National Defence following the Unification of the Canadian Armed Forces and resigned as a result. He died at Halifax, Nova Scotia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Twiss</span> Royal Navy Admiral (1910-1994)

Admiral Sir Frank Roddam Twiss, was a senior Royal Navy officer who served as Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel from 1967 to 1970. He went on to serve as Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod from 1970 to 1978.

HMCS<i> Star</i> Military unit

HMCS Star is a Canadian Forces Naval Reserve Division (NRD) located in Hamilton, Ontario. Dubbed a stone frigate, HMCS Star is a land-based naval establishment for training part-time sailors as well as functioning as a local recruitment centre for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). The second oldest of 24 naval reserve divisions located in major cities across Canada, Star was stood up on 15 March 1923 as the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) Hamilton Half Company and then on 1 November 1941 as HMCS Star.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walter Hose</span> Naval officer (1875–1965)

Rear-Admiral Walter Hose, was an officer of the Royal Navy (RN), the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and founder of the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hal Lawrence</span>

Harold Ernest Thomas Lawrence (1920–1994) was a Canadian naval officer and author. He was born in the Corps of Royal Engineers barracks at Chatham, England; and moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harold Taylor Wood Grant</span> Canadian admiral (1899–1965)

Vice-Admiral Harold Taylor Wood Grant, was a Canadian naval officer and a post-war Chief of the Naval Staff. The son of Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, MacCallum Grant, Harold Grant entered the Royal Canadian Navy as a cadet in 1914. He spent most of the First World War in training until 1917, when he became a midshipman aboard a British Royal Navy ship. Considered an above average officer, he was earmarked for early promotion during the interwar period and by 1938, commanded the destroyer HMCS Skeena.

Vice-Admiral Sir John Gilchrist Thesiger Inglis,, sometimes known as Tommy Inglis, was a Royal Navy officer who served as Director of Naval Intelligence from 1954 to 1960. In this capacity, he attempted to cover-up the "Buster Crabb affair" in 1956.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Jones (Canadian admiral)</span> Royal Canadian Navy admiral

Vice-Admiral George Clarence Jones, was a Royal Canadian Navy vice admiral who served as Chief of the Naval Staff from 15 January 1944 to 28 February 1946.

HMCS Queen Charlotte is a Canadian Forces Naval Reserve Division (NRD) located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Dubbed a stone frigate, HMCS Queen Charlotte is a land-based naval training establishment crewed by part-time sailors and also serves as a local recruitment centre for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). It is one of 24 naval reserve divisions located in major cities across Canada.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Tributes on Retirement as Usher of the Black Rod". Parliament of Canada. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
  2. "Ushered out". Political Bytes. CBC. 2008-01-18. Retrieved 2008-01-24.