The City of Kamloops is offering up to $3,500 to an artist whose design is chosen for a new Mayor’s Chain of Office.

Tuesday afternoon, the City put out a formal call to Kamloopsians seeking design submissions for the new chain to replace the one which was stolen during a break-in at City Hall last September.

Recreation, Social Development, and Culture Manager, Barbara Berger, says the hope is to have this new chain ready to be presented to the next mayor at the Nov. 1 inaugural meeting of the new council.

“We see the unfortunate theft of the last Chain of Office as an opportunity to involve the community in reimagining the new chain’s imagery and symbolism with fresh perspective,” she said, in a statement.

“A custom-made Chain of Office is revered as an important piece of public history, and it should reflect the values and priorities of our community.”

Typically worn by the Mayor at ceremonial events and honours, the missing Chain of Office included the City of Kamloops’ Coat of Arms, the Government of BC Coat of Arms, as well as symbols to represent the Government of Canada.

The City says these elements were “connected by interspersing medallions engraved with the names of prior Mayors and the dates they served.”

Berger says the hope is that this new chain would also include other concepts, such as the long-standing relationship between Kamloops and the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc.

The reward being offered may be split among multiple artists if the final design is a combination of several submissions.

Submission Criteria

• Residents are encouraged to either design a new Chain of Office in its entirety or to submit creative design elements to be included as part of a chain.
• Designers are not required to produce the Chain of Office, but submissions must represent actual size, be submitted in colour, and provide detailed specifications and materials to be used in creating the Chain of Office.
• Designers must submit a detailed design statement for the proposed elements that explains their significance and that explains why they are interested in the project.
• Designers must specify font and font size for any text.

Submissions must be received at City Hall by 4:00 p.m. Friday, April 22.

Berger says all of the designs will be adjudicated by the City’s Arts and Culture Working Group, with a shortlist going to council for a final selection.