Archived News Releases

News Release - Manitoba

June 15, 2010

Premier Invites Manitobans to Welcome the Queen and Prince Philip



Premier Greg Selinger today invited Manitobans to participate in the public events planned for the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh’s tour of Winnipeg on Saturday, July 3.
 
“I am excited to learn of the Queen’s interest in the events Manitobans have planned for her visit to our capital,” said Selinger. “Not only do they promise to be interesting and entertaining but some will preview significant undertakings on behalf of Canadians and those living beyond our borders.”
 
The royal couple will be the first passengers to arrive at the new terminal building at the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport. There, the Queen will sign a message to the youth of the future to be placed in a time capsule to be opened in 50 years.
 
In addition to dignitaries and officials, many other Manitobans will attend royal events including military veterans and their families, Canadian Forces cadets, airport workers, volunteers and members of the public. 
 
At Government House, the Queen will rededicate a statue of herself originally created by world‑renowned Manitoba sculptor the late Leo Mol to commemorate her 1970 address to the Manitoba legislature. On the grounds of the lieutenant-governor’s residence, the royal couple will also take part in the ceremonial planting of a new shrub created in the Queen’s honour and named the Amber Jubilee ninebark. It will symbolize the 500,000th tree planted in Manitoba’s Trees for Tomorrow Program. Her Majesty will also be greeted by Suzanna, a golden Labrador she gave to the RCMP last year. Suzanna was born in 2008 at the Queen’s kennels in Norfolk. The Queen is the honourary commissioner of the RCMP.
 
Attending events at Government House will be the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides of Canada, members of the Manitoba Living History Society, Manitoba war brides, the Monarchist League of Canada, United Empire Loyalists and visually impaired youth invited by Lt.-Gov. Philip Lee. 
 
Later in the afternoon, the Queen will unveil a cornerstone at the site of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. The stone was taken from the fields of Runnymede near Windsor Castle, the site of the signing of the Magna Carta, considered by many to be the first significant influence on the modern concept of human rights. 
 
Among those invited to The Forks are representatives of the Festival du Voyageur, La Compagnie de La Vérendrye, a representative of Treaty 1 lands at The Forks, the military, young winners of a national human-rights competition and members of the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlands, of whom His Royal Highness is colonel-in-chief. 
 
The public is invited to The Forks for the Manitoba Homecoming Concert for Human Rights where the Queen will speak to those attending. Performing will be the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, vocal quintet Chic Gamine, Aboriginal drummers and singer-songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk.
 
This will be the Queen’s sixth visit to Manitoba. Her first was in 1951 when she was still a princess. She visited Manitoba in 1959 as part of a national tour and she returned in 1970, 1984 and 2002, when she rededicated the regilded Golden Boy atop the Legislative Building.   
 
“I invite Manitobans to warmly welcome the royal couple and participate with enthusiasm in the day’s events,” said Selinger. “We are looking forward to celebrating our province, its people and our past, present and future with the Queen of Canada.”
 
Detailed information on the royal visit is available at http://royaltour.gc.ca/itiner/itiner-eng.cfm.
 
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