- Royal Palace Presentation Box created by Sean Isaacs of Alliance Coin & Banknote in Almonte
In 1912 the summer Olympics were held in Sweden. To commemorate the Games of the V Olympiad, Almonte native Dr. Robert Tait McKenzie created one of his most famous works, the Joy of Effort medallion. His bronze sculpture is mounted on a wall at the Olympic stadium in Stockholm. Dr. McKenzie received a medal from the King of Sweden, Gustaf V, in recognition of his contribution to athletic sculpture.
The life and work of Dr. McKenzie is showcased at the R. Tait McKenzie Memorial Museum, located at the Mill of Kintail Conservation Area on the Indian River near Almonte, Ontario. The Mill of Kintail was the summer home of Tait McKenzie and his wife Ethel, and Dr. McKenzie’s sculpture studio.
Museum volunteers Neil and Lucy Carleton of Almonte are currently visiting friends in Sweden. To celebrate the centennial of Dr. McKenzie’s 1912 sculpture, they will be making two presentations in Stockholm on behalf of the R. Tait McKenzie Memorial Museum in Canada to commemorate the centennial of the Joy of Effort sculpture. King Carl XVI Gustaf is the great-grandson of King Gustaf V who awarded a medal to Dr. McKenzie in recognition of his artistic contribution to the 1912 Olympic games in Stockholm.
The presentation will be made today, September 12.
at 9.a.m. Neil and Lucy Carleton, Bjorn and Gunnel Fransson, Robert Buswell + one further representative of the Canadian Embassy will present to Lieutenant-General Mats Nilsson, First Marshal of the Royal Court of Sweden the Joy of Effort Medallion (pictured above) at the Royal Palace in Stockholm. The First Marshal of the Court heads the Office of the Marshal of the Court, which is responsible for the Royal Family’s official appearances and representation.
At 11 a.m. Neil and Lucy Carleton, Bjorn and Gunnel Fransson, Robert Buswell + one further representative of the Canadian Embassy will present a Stadion Plaque and Joy of Effort Medallion (pictured below) from the R. Tait McKenzie Memorial Museum to the Delegation of the Sveriges Centralförening för Idrottens Främjande (SCIF), the Swedish Central Association for the Promotion of Sport at the Stockhom Olympic Stadium, known locally as Stadion . The SCIF was responsible for Stockholm’s bid to host the 1912 games and the construction of the stadium. The SCIF plays an important role in the preservation of the history of the 1912 Olympics.
The Stadion Plaque was created by Blair Olson at The Almonte Sign Company with images from Karen Thompson, Sean Isaacs, and The R.Tait McKenzie Memorial Museum. Text courtesy of the Embassy of Canada to Sweden.
The plaque contains the following text:
Dr. R. Tait McKenzie, a native of Almonte, Canada, created the acclaimed bronze medallion Joy of Effort for the Games of the V Olympiad held in 1912 at Stockholm, Sweden, where it has been on display at Stadion ever since. To commemorate the 2012 centennial of the Joy of Effort, this plaque was presented by Neil Carleton from Stephanie Kolsters, Curator, R. Tait McKenzie Memorial Museum at Almonte, Canada, to Sveriges Centralförening för Idrottens Främjande at Stadion on September 12, 2013.
Dr. R. Tait McKenzie från Almonte, Kanada skapade den hyllade bronsmedaljongen Joy of Effort till de femte Olympiska spelen som hölls 1912 i Stockholm, Sverige. Medaljongen har varit uppsatt på Stadions fasad sedan dess. För att högtidlighålla Joy of Efforts 100-års jubileum presenterade Neil Carleton denna plakett från Stephanie Kolsters, Intendent vid R. Tait McKenzie Memorial Museum i Almonte, Kanada till Sveriges Centralförening för Idrottens Främjande på Stadion den 12 september 2013
