The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall Visit Canada – Day Three

 Yellowknife

 Thursday, 19th May

Their Royal Highnesses will depart Ottawa for Yellowknife. 

ARRIVAL 

Their Royal Highnesses will arrive in Yellowknife. 

ENGAGEMENT 15 

Their Royal Highnesses will visit the Dettah Community. 

Their Royal Highnesses will be welcomed by the two Chiefs for the Yellowknives Dene First Nation – Chief Edward Sangris (Dettah) and Chief Fred Sangris (Ndilo). The Premier of the Northwest Territories, The Honourable Caroline Cochrane, will then introduce herself before Their Royal Highnesses meet with representatives from the Northwest Territories Council of Leaders.  

Dene National Chief, and Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief of the NWT, Gerald Antoine will then introduce himself to Their Royal Highnesses. 

Their Royal Highnesses will be invited to participate in a Feeding the Fire Ceremony, facilitated by Elder Bernadette Martin. This ceremony will begin with an opening prayer followed by a prayer to the spirits. Drumming will accompany the ceremony. Their Royal Highnesses will put offerings of tobacco into the fire. 

Their Royal Highnesses will then be escorted through demonstrations of hide scraping and tanning by Angela Lafferty, Director of Language, Culture and History for the YKDFN. 

Background 

Dettah is the Yellowknives Dene First Nation community in the Northern region of Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories, located approximately 6km from Yellowknife by the ice road or 27km via Ingraham Trail. Dettah is a part of the Akaitcho Territory Government. Their population is approximately 220 people. The name ‘Dettah’ means ‘charcoal’ or ‘burnt point’, which comes from a devastating fire that reduced the community to ashes in 1959. 

Dettah used to be a much more isolated community until 1967 when Her Majesty The Queen’s first visit to the Northwest Territories prompted the construction of a connecting road between Dettah and Yellowknife. 

Opened in 2009, the Chief Drygeese Government Building contributes to enhancing the community foundation and improve the quality of life for the people who live and work in Dettah. 

ENGAGEMENT 16 

His Royal Highness will attend a Round table with Yellowknives Dene First Nation Leadership. 

His Royal Highness will be escorted inside Chief Drygeese Government Building to the Council Chambers by Elder Bernadette Martin. Upon arrival he will be met by Chief Edward Sangris and Chief Fred Sangris. 

Following the roundtable discussion, Their Royal Highnesses will watch demonstrations of Dene Hand Game competitions and a traditional drum dance. 

Akaitcho Territory 

The people of Akaitcho, located South and East of Great Slave Lake, speak Chipewyan, Cree and Dogrib. Today, bison roam freely in one of the world’s largest parks, Wood Buffalo. 

Akaitcho Dene and Métis live in Fort Resolution, Lutselk’e, Fort Smith, Dettah, Ndilo and Yellowknife. 

Hand Games 

Hand Games were played years ago as a form of gambling among friends and communities. Often, the games were played to gamble for bullets, furs, dogs, toboggans or stick matches. Today, however, Hand Games are played in cultural centres, community carnivals and other events all over the Dene region as a friendly competition fostering community pride. Drumming often accompanies the games. The Dene Hand Games are based on a simple concept of using elaborate hand signals and gestures to hide and find objects – the goal is for one team to correctly guess where the other team has hidden the tokens or sticks in play (usually hidden in blankets). There are a wide range of rules and signals, and each Dene community has variations that are complex and historically significant to the specific areas. 

The Dene Drum Dance 

The dance consists of drumming and singing, is performed at most gatherings and celebrations. The drummers sing and play their caribou hide drums in a rhythmic beat while dancing around in a circle (always clockwise, to follow the direction of the sun). The history of drumming comes from the story of Yamozha and Yamoria, twin brothers from a thousand years ago: they told the Dene people that they needed to provide entertainment for themselves and introduced them to the Drum, a gift from the Creator, so that they could sing and be happy. They gave a number of songs to the Dene people that continue to be performed today. 

ENGAGEMENT 17 

Her Royal Highness will visit Dettah’s Kaw Tay Whee Community School. 

The Duchess will walk with Lea Lamoureux, Kaw Tay Whee School’s Principal from the community centre to the school. 

The Duchess will then tour two classrooms. Her Royal Highness will firstly join the Junior Kindergarten class, taught by Ms. Sally Drygeese, assisted by her mother, Elder Mary Louise Drygeese, and participate in a Wıìlıìdeh language lesson. Her Royal Highness will receive a brief history of the language and be invited to learn some key words and phrases with the class. 

The second classroom will be the Middle School Class, with pupils in grades two to five who will share details of their film projects. 

Her Royal Highness will then be shown demonstrations of fish scale artwork and fish drying. Staff and students will explain the processes and history of the traditional activities and will share anecdotes of how and why they select certain topics and endeavours to learn about. 

Her Royal Highness will pose for a group photo with the students and staff of Kaw Tay Whee School before departure. 

Kaw Tay Whee School 

Kaw Tay Whee School is the community school of Dettah, with a current student population of 34 students and 8 staff. They offer high quality, culturally responsive programming from full-day kindergarten to grade 8. They believe in instilling strong academic skills in their students so that they can be strong, confident members of society. They offer small class sizes with a high number of curriculum-based hands-on learning opportunities. 

The Dene Kede and Dene Laws are a very important part of Kaw Tay Whee’s students’ learning and are intertwined in everything that is taught. The laws are as follows: 

• Share what you have 

• Help each other 

• Love each other as much as possible 

• Be respectful of Elders and everything around you 

• Sleep at night and work during the day 

• Be polite and don’t argue with anyone 

• Young girls and boys should behave respectfully 

• Pass on the teachings 

• Be happy at all times 

Kaw Tay Whee School is governed by the very supportive members of the Dettah District Education Authority and has many important stakeholders, including parents, community members, the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and Yellowknife Education District No. 1. 

Kaw Tay Whee School is on Chief Drygeese Territory in the Akaitcho region, the traditional territory of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation. 

Wıìlıìdeh 

Wıìlıìdeh, a dialect of the Tłı̨chǫ (Dogrib) language), is one of the two traditional languages spoken by the Yellowknives Dene First Nation (the other being Tetsǫ̨́t’ıné Yatıé, a dialect of the Dëne Sųłıné (Chipewyan) language), and the dialect more commonly used in communities around Yellowknife, including Dettah and Ndilo. Those who speak one dialect are able to understand the other, but they are different enough that each dialect requires its own writing system and teaching materials to represent the languages accurately. 

The local Wıìlıìdeh dialect is one of the key components of learning at the Kaw Tay Whee School. In order to help revitalize daily use of the Wıìlıìdeh dialect, the school is challenging its staff and students to use Wıìlıìdeh for communication during the school day and at home with their family and friends, part of their whole school approach to teaching and learning an Indigenous language. 

Dried fish 

Fish drying has been a practice followed by Indigenous Peoples for generations. In Dettah, Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) caught on Great Slave Lake is used. The process involves gutting the fish, filleting it, and hanging it on poles to dry naturally over a fire for a couple of days. 

ENGAGEMENT 18 

The Prince of Wales will visit the Canadian Rangers at Fred Henne Territorial Park to mark the organization’s 75th anniversary. 

On arrival, The Prince will be greeted by the Commanding Officer, the Group Sergeant Major, and the Honorary Colonel of the 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group. The Lieutenant-Colonel will present Sergeant Hitkolok, who will accompany YRH throughout the event. 

His Royal Highness will proceed to a series of stations displaying the work of the Canadian Rangers, including uniforms and clothing worn by members in the cold Northern climate, a McPherson Tent showing Arctic and Subarctic sleeping arrangements, vehicles, and equipment used by Canadian Rangers during harsh temperatures. 

His Royal Highness will have the opportunity to meet with Canadian Rangers, and discuss the impact of climate change on the work that they do. Each ranger will greet The Prince in their first language (they speak 26 different languages and dialects, many of which are Indigenous) and discuss the impact of climate change on the work that they do. 

His Royal Highness will then meet with Junior Canadian Rangers, explore traditional skills taught in the Canadian Rangers and inspect a Junior Canadian Ranger tent. 

His Royal highness will be appointed as an Honorary Canadian Ranger and given one of the iconic red Canadian Rangers hoodies, a Rangers jacket, and cap. His Royal Highness will then be invited to sign the Canadian Ranger Patrol Group Guest Book and present a certificate to the top Canadian Ranger Instructor with the Commanding Officer. 

The Canadian Rangers 

2022 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Canadian Rangers. 

The Canadian Rangers are a part of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Reserves working in remote, isolated and coastal regions of Canada. They provide lightly-equipped, self-sufficient mobile forces to support CAF national security and public safety operations within Canada. They regularly train alongside other CAF members to remain prepared. Their motto is ‘Vigilans,’ meaning ‘The Watchers.’ Some of the ways they protect Canada include: conducting patrols; reporting unusual activities or sightings, collecting local data for the CAF; performing sovereignty or national security duties; assisting in search and rescue efforts; and assisting with natural disasters such as forest fires and floods. 

There are currently about 5,000 Canadian Rangers. Canadian Rangers live in more than 200 communities and speak 26 different languages and dialects, many Indigenous. 

The 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group (1 CRPG) is responsible for Nunavut Territory, Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories, and Atlin, British Columbia, which accounts for about 40 percent of Canada’s land mass. 1 CRPG has an establishment of 2,000 Canadian Rangers in 61 patrols and more than 1,400 Junior Canadian Rangers (JCRs) in 44 patrols located in 65 communities across the north. The headquarters is located in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories and reports to 3rd Canadian Division. Canadian Rangers are part-time members that are paid when on duty and also receive Equipment Usage Rate for vehicles and equipment they use when participating in approved activities. 

Fred Henne Territorial Park 

The Park is a scenic camping park located three kilometers from downtown Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, Canada. Set on the shores of Long Lake, it’s one of the busiest campgrounds in the region, home to more than 100 campsites, both electric and non-electric, as well as a sandy beach surrounded by relatively untouched wilderness. Named after a former mayor of Yellowknife, the park is listed as a Protected Area for good reason. Opportunities for outdoor recreation abound with a beach, grassy lawn and playground for kids, picnic areas, hiking trails, and an abundance of wildlife to be spotted. 

ENGAGEMENT 19 

The Prince of Wales will participate in a discussion with local experts on the impact of climate change in Northern Canada and the importance of Indigenous-led initiatives during his visit to Ice Road. 

The Prince will be met at Rotary Centennial Park by the Director of Environmental Stewardship and Climate Change for the Government of the Northwest Territories, Mr. Julian Kanigan. Mr. Kanigan will lead His Royal Highness to the Ice Road entrance and introduce him to a local Professor and Permafrost Scientist, and a climate expert. 

His Royal Highness will then meet with representatives of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative and the Boots on the Ground programme, to discuss the value of Indigenous-led environmental approaches and how Tlicho knowledge informs their work. 

Lastly, His Royal Highness will be introduced to Mr. Mark Heyck, Executive Director of the Arctic Energy Alliance. 

The Dettah Ice Road 

The Ice Road connects Yellowknife and the small community of Dettah in the winter through the Great Slave Lake. The road is 6.4 km long, running across Yellowknife Bay. The road must be rebuilt each year. When the ice is 1 meter thick, it can support a truck fully loaded with over 40 metric tons (44 tons) of fuel. While the road has historically opened in late December, the last years have seen the opening delayed to early January. The Ice Road was open for the longest period in 1995 and 1996, at 140 days; while it was open for the shortest period in 2017 and 2019 at only 91 days. It is illegal to drive on the ice road until it’s officially open. 

Climate Change Impacts on the Ice Road and the North: 

• Longer ice-free seasons in the Arctic Ocean are leading to significant and rapid coastal erosion. 

• Numerous buildings have been moved in the community of Tuktoyaktuk (on the Northern Coast of the Northwest Territories along the Artic Ocean), and the entire community may need to be relocated in the coming decades. 

• Coastal erosion is exposing and washing away cultural and archaeological sites faster than they can be preserved. 

• Warmer winters are shortening the season for winter ice roads that are lifelines for goods and people who live in communities that are only accessible by air. 

The Environmental Stewardship and Climate Change Division of the Government of the Northwest Territories 

The division leads the implementation of the government’s Knowledge Agenda, coordinates ENR’s input into environmental assessment and regulatory processes, and fulfils ENR’s regulatory obligation to monitor air quality and cumulative environmental impacts. The division also works to conserve land and water in the NWT in partnership with Indigenous governments and others. 

The Northwest Territories Geological Survey (NTGS) 

The Survey is a Division of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Government of the Northwest Territories. They advance geoscience knowledge of the Northwest Territories (NWT) by conducting geoscience research, analysing mineral and petroleum resources, and offering excellent digital data. 

The Indigenous Leadership Initiative (ILI) 

The initiative is an Indigenous-led organization dedicated to advancing the role of Indigenous Nations in deciding the future of traditional territories. ILI has been leading the advocacy at the National-level to advance Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship, including advocating for further investments by the Government of Canada for an Indigenous-led approach; the creation of the National First Nations Guardians Network and the advancement of the model in various regions within Canada. 

The Tlicho Government 

The Government was created in 2005 when the Tlicho Nation ratified the Tlicho Agreement with the Government of Canada. Through this agreement certain rights relating to lands, resources and self-government were defined. 

Boots on the Ground – Tłı̨cho Monitoring Caribou Program 

The program is based on the traditional knowledge of Indigenous Elders and harvesters that began in 2016. 

The program’s methodology, “Do as hunters do”, is based on the lifeways of hunters. From the elder’s holistic concept “we watch everything”, the researchers identify and wait at specific na’oke (water crossings) and follow caribou herds by boat and on foot to identify traditional knowledge indicators of a healthy environment by assessing caribou and habitat conditions, impacts from predators, climate change and industrial activities. 

ENGAGEMENT 20 

The Duchess of Cornwall will visit a YWCA transitional housing centre. 

Her Royal Highness will be greeted by Hawa Dumbuya-Sesay, Executive Director of the centre, and escorted into the centre’s common room to meet staff members and beneficiaries of the program. 

Her Royal Highness will then hear beneficiaries’ stories of going through the program, staff members’ long-term experiences, the impact reconciliation has on how programs are developed, as well as discussions about women-led initiatives and the services required for many women in the North. The Duchess will partake in these conversations while making Bannock, a form of bread that is a staple in Indigenous cuisine. The Duchess will then be shown a variety of handcrafted art pieces done by the women of the centre. 

There will be a group photo opportunity at the conclusion of the visit. 

YWCA transitional housing centre

The centre is otherwise known as Hoti Etsanda Ko in the Welledeh dialect of the Tlicho language, which means ‘healthy living place’ – is a transitional safe housing centre for women who are fleeing domestic violence and are in need of a stable and safe environment to call home. 

The building itself contains 18 suites on 3 floors and offers a variety of layouts depending on the individual’s needs. Applicants are assessed for need and willingness to engage in the programming offered at the centre; rent is affordable, in accordance with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) affordability guidelines, and tenants can stay for up to 3 years either by themselves or with their children. 

During their stay at the centre, women are provided with support and guidance as well as advice on career development to help integrate them into the workforce so that they can lead self-sufficient lives. Basic life skills are also taught, such as cooking, literacy, budgeting, etc. Above all else, women support each other and build a safe and trustworthy community at The centre. 

The Centre is operated by YWCA NWT (Young Women’s Christian Association, Northwest Territories) which runs two out of the five women’s shelters in the territory. YWCA itself is an international organization that was founded in the United Kingdom in 1855 and now has branches in over 100 countries, all of which focus on empowerment, leadership and rights of women and girls. 

Bannock 

Bannock been a staple in Northern Canadian cuisine for centuries. While the ingredients are relatively basic – water, flour, baking soda and lard, and sugar or salt depending on whether one is cooking a meal vs. dessert – it is a culinary art form that takes years to perfect. Classic Bannock has a smoky, nutty flavour blended with a buttery taste, whereas dessert Bannock usually resembles a donut or shortbread. Every family has their own take on Bannock – it can be cooked over almost every heat source and can therefore have a variety of flavours and textures. 

The Duchess and Domestic Abuse 

For several years, The Duchess has also highlighted the work of domestic abuse charities and the work they do to support victims and survivors, both in the UK and overseas, with the aim of breaking the taboo around the subject. HRH recently became Patron of the UK charity, SafeLives and has also visited Refuge and Women’s Aid centres in the UK. 

Towards the start of lockdown, domestic abuse helplines saw a significant surge in calls, and Her Royal Highness shared a message of support for victims, with links to useful helplines and practical advice. 

Some recent examples of Her Royal Highnesses work include: 

In March 2022, The Duchess met residents and joined a reception for staff, volunteers, and partners at a Women’s Aid centre in Northern Ireland. 

In February 2022, during Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week, The Duchess of Cornwall visited Paddington Haven, a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in West London, before visiting the Thames Vallery Partnership offices in Aylesbury to hear about the new technology being used to support those affected by domestic abuse. 

In January 2022 The Duchess hosted a reception at Clarence House to mark 50 years of Refuge and the movement to end domestic abuse. The Duchess of Cornwall met Refuge Ambassadors, Trustees and Survivors of domestic abuse, and learnt how abuse has changed over Refuge’s 50-year history. 

In March 2021 The Duchess met with Darren O’Brien at Victoria Station to discuss the Rail to Refuge scheme. The initiative, coordinated by Rail Delivery Group and Women’s Aid, helps people to escape domestic abuse and reach a safe refuge quickly and free of charge. 

In September 2021, The Duchess of Cornwall became Patron of Mirabel Centre in Nigeria. Founded in July 2013 by Itoro Eze-Anaba, the Mirabel Centre is Nigeria’s first Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), providing succour and a safe place to survivors of rape and sexual assault. 

ENGAGEMENT 21 

Their Royal Highnesses will visit Prince of Wales Heritage Centre in Yellowknife. 

Their Royal Highnesses will arrive separately. 

His Royal Highness will be greeted by Mr. Kyle Thomas, owner of Bush Order Provisions. The Prince will then meet with various local food producers outside the building to discuss 

environmental challenges encountered in the food production sector in Northern Canada, and highlight challenges small business owners have encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

En route to the main entrance of the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, His Royal Highness will be greeted by The Honourable Mr. R.J. Simpson, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Government of the Northwest Territories and Dr. Sarah Carr-Locke, Director of The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. 

His Royal Highness will be introduced to Ms. Robin Weber, who will open the same door to The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre that she opened for His Royal Highness in 1979, during his last visit to the Centre. She was five years old at that time. 

The Prince will view a display of archival images from the opening in 1979 and learn about how the Heritage Centre has evolved throughout the decades since His Royal Highness’s last visit. 

His Royal Highness will then proceed to the Treaty 11 exhibition to discuss the importance of Treaty 11 (which was signed in 1921) in the history of the Northwest Territories with Dr. John B. Zoe, the curator of the exhibition and a Senior Advisor for the Tlicho Government. 

His Royal Highness, accompanied by the of Minister of Education, Culture, and Employment for the Government of the Northwest Territories, The Honourable R.J. Simpson, will then enter the Auditorium of The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. They will be greeted by Indigenous Games Athletes Ms. Veronica Macdonald and Mr. John Williams, both Traditional Games Instructors with the Aboriginal Sports Circle. Ms. McLeod will introduce His Royal Highness to the Aboriginal Sport Circle and provide historical background about the importance of Indigenous Games to Indigenous Communities. Ms. McLeod will also facilitate the demonstrations from Indigenous athletes from Inuvik, Tuktoyaktuk, and Yellowknife, which will be ongoing during this discussion. 

Meanwhile, The Duchess of Cornwall will arrive and proceed to the Discovery Gallery, where she will be greeted by local Indigenous artisans and view handmade Indigenous crafts common in Northern Communities and learn about the crafting process and history of Indigenous crafts. 

The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre 

The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, opened by His Royal Highness in 1979. It is the Government of the Northwest Territories’ Museum and archives. The Centre acquires and manages objects and archival materials that represent the cultures and history of the Northwest Territories (NWT), plays a primary role in documenting and providing information about the cultures and history of the NWT, and provides professional museum, archives and cultural resource management services to partner organizations. 

In addition to its exhibits, collections and conservation programs, the PWNHC houses the NWT Archives, provides technical, logistic and financial support to individuals and organizations involved in cultural activities and the arts, and authorizes archaeological studies in the NWT. 

Treaty 11 

Treaty 11 is considered a foundational piece of both the nation-to-nation treaty-making process that led to the signing of modern treaties in the Territory, but also of the social and political fabric of the Northwest Territories. 

It was signed in 1921 in several communities in the Northwest Territories. 

Treaty 11 is considered a foundational piece of both the nation-to-nation treaty-making process that led to the signing of modern treaties in the NWT, but also of the social and political fabric of the Northwest Territories. 

The Tłı̨chǫ are a self-governing nation and are committed to the nation-to-nation and government-to-government relationships that have been established and facilitated by the treaty-making process. 

Dr. Zoe often shares the Tłı̨chǫ perspective of how their origin stories are written in the landscape, there is a very strong connection to the land that is integral to their existence. He often refers to a common Tłı̨chǫ saying “Strong like two people” – this embodies the importance of maintaining strength in traditional Tłı̨chǫ ways and the connection to the land, while also strengthening the treaty relationship and self-governing nature of their nation in the modern economy. 

The Aboriginal Sports Circle of the Northwest Territories (ASCNWT) 

The ASCNWT empowers and builds capacity within communities, promotes, and supports culturally relevant programming, and develops athletes and coaches in a level of involvement they find meaningful. Established in 1999, ASCNWT was created through a national consensus-building process in response to the need for more accessible and equitable sport and recreation opportunities for Aboriginal peoples across the Northwest Territories. 

Traditional games likely to be demonstrated include: 

• One-Foot-High Kick: in this competition the competitor stands on one foot, jumps in the air and hits a ball or piece of seal such as a ringed seal, which is suspended from a stand and then lands on the same foot. 

• Two-Foot-High Kick: in this competition, athletes must jump using two feet, touch a hanging target with both feet, and land on both feet, maintaining balance. The event is often considered the most demanding Arctic sport. 

• Alaskan-High Kick: athletes must balance on one foot while holding the other, kick a target straight above with the balancing foot to reach a target, then land on the balancing and kicking foot. 

ENGAGEMENT 22 

Their Royal Highnesses will attend a Platinum Jubilee Ceremony at Ceremonial Circle. 

Following the events inside the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, His Royal Highness, accompanied by The Honourable Caroline Cochrane, Premier of the Northwest Territories, and Her Royal Highness, accompanied by Ms. Rebecca Alty, Mayor of Yellowknife will proceed along the Flag Causeway towards The Ceremonial Circle. 

Upon arrival at the Ceremonial Circle, two Red Serge members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Chief Superintendent of the RCMP in the Northwest Territories, Chief Superintendent Jamie Zettler, will raise the Canadian Jubilee Flag. 

Premier Cochrane will then share short remarks, thanking Their Royal Highnesses for visiting the Northwest Territories and afterwards, invite His Royal Highness to say a few remarks. 

His Royal Highness, accompanied by The Honourable Margaret Thom, Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, and Her Royal Highness, accompanied by Brigadier General Pascal Godbout, Commanding Officer of the RCMP Northwest Territories, will then proceed to the site of the Jubilee Garden where His Royal Highness will unveil a Jubilee Plaque. 

Members of the Northwest Territories Pipe Band will be performing as Their Royal Highnesses depart. 

Ceremonial Circle and Flag Causeway 

The Ceremonial Circle was officially opened on March 31,1999 and was the site of the Northwest Territories’ celebrations to mark the creation of two new territories, Nunavut and a new NWT, in Canada’s North. Located behind City Hall on the walkway leading to the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre and the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, the Ceremonial Circle is an area that celebrates the Northwest Territories, its people and many cultures. The Circle is a gathering place for people and can be used by any group wanting to celebrate special events. The flags of the 33 communities in the NWT line the causeway crossing the end of Frame Lake leading from the Ceremonial Circle to the Heritage Centre and Legislative Assembly. Each flagpole features a plaque that shows the community’s name in the Aboriginal language of the area and the official name. 

Jubilee Garden 

The Office of the Commissioner has spearheaded the creation of a commemorative garden in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The plants and colours of the garden have been selected to reflect the deep relationship between the Crown and Indigenous people and Canada’s ongoing national efforts at reconciliation. The plants will include sage and sweetgrass, Indigenous perennial Norther plans which are considered in Indigenous cultures to be sacred and to have healing effects. The balance of the flowerbed will be filled with bedding plants with predominately orange flowers. The use of orange flowers is in recognition of the “Every Child Matters” movement and is recognized as a symbol of reconciliation. 

Traditional Métis Music 

The roots of Métis music run deep in Canada and reflect a heritage defined by two poles: the French and Indigenous Peoples. Historically, the Metis are a people born of the many alliances and marriages between French-Canadian trappers and Indigenous traders that defined the fur trade. Métis culture blends elements from both traditions but is wholly different from both. This syncretic nature of Metis culture is readily apparent in Metis music and dance. 

Northwest Territories Pipe Band 

The band is a Grade Four recreational pipe and drum band which makes its home in the city of Yellowknife. The NWT Pipe Band has the distinction of being Canada’s most northerly highland pipe band at 62° 27 North latitude-edging out the Midnight Sun Pipe Band from Whitehorse, Yukon. The band plays at numerous community events throughout the year, such as Remembrance Day services, Yellowknife’s Canada Day Parade and spring “Caribou Carnival”. The band also plays at various fundraising, such as the NWT Council for Disabled Persons’ Celebrity Auction and sporting events, including curling bonspiels and the biannual Arctic Winter Games. 

DEPARTURE 

Their Royal Highnesses will be honoured with a Departure Guard before they depart for the UK. 

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall Visit Canada – Day Two

Ottawa

 Wednesday, 18th May

ENGAGEMENT 5 

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will attend the Order of Military Merit Ceremony at Rideau Hall. 

The Prince and The Duchess will be greeted by the Governor General of Canada, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon and His Excellency Whit Fraser at Rideau Hall. The Master of Ceremonies will make brief remarks about the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Order of Military Merit, and Her Excellency will invest His Royal Highness as Extraordinary Commander of the Order of Military Merit and present the insignia. 

Founded on July 1, 1972, the Order of Military Merit recognizes distinctive merit and exceptional service displayed by the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces, both Regular and Reserve. Many recipients have demonstrated dedication and devotion beyond the call of duty, and the Order honours them for their commitment to Canada. 

Her Majesty The Queen is the Order’s Sovereign, the Governor General is its Chancellor and a Commander, and the Chief of the Defence Staff is its Principal Commander. The first senior visitor appointed as Extraordinary Commander was HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. Since then, The Prince of Wales and The Princess Royal have been appointed as Extraordinary Commanders. 

ENGAGEMENT 6 

Their Royal Highnesses will attend a Wreath Laying Ceremony at National War Memorial. 

Their Royal Highnesses will be greeted at the National War Memorial by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, His Excellency Whit Fraser, and the Chief Warrant Officer of the National Defence Headquarters, CWO J.C.E. Drouin. Their Royal Highnesses will then be escorted to the upper deck of the Monument by the Canadian Equerry. A bugler will play the Last Post, followed by a moment of silence, the Rouse from the bugler, and the piper will play the Lament. 

His Royal Highness will lay a wreath and Her Royal Highness will place a bouquet on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. 

Their Royal Highnesses will then sign the Veteran Affairs Canada Visitor’s Book before departure. 

This ceremony remembers the sacrifices and service of current members of the Canadian Armed Forces, veterans, and their families. 

The National War Memorial, also known as “The Response,” is a cenotaph symbolizing the sacrifice of all Canadian Armed Forces personnel serving Canada in time of war in the cause of peace and freedom—past, present, and future. The Memorial was unveiled by His Majesty King George V in 1939 to commemorate the response of Canadians in the First World War 1914-1918. Over the years, the memorial has come to symbolize the sacrifice of all Canadians who have served Canada in time of war and was rededicated in their honour. 

In 2000, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was added in the front of the memorial. The tomb contains the remains of an unknown Canadian soldier from a war cemetery near Vimy Ridge, France. 

Their Royal Highnesses have previously laid a wreath at the National War Memorial, most recently on June 30, 2011. 

ENGAGEMENT 7 

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will meet members of the Ukrainian Community at the Blessed Virgin Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral. 

Their Royal Highnesses will be greeted outside the Cathedral by Fr. Taras Kinash, Parish Priest, and Ms. Elizabeth Malarek, the Parish President. Their Royal Highnesses will each light a beeswax candle as they enter church for worship. Their Royal Highnesses will then join the congregation in a Ukrainian prayer. 

In the Banquet Hall, Their Royal Highnesses will be offered the traditional Ukrainian greeting of bread (Kolach) and salt, by two parishioners and three members of Ottawa’s Svitanok Ukrainian Dance Society. Their Royal Highnesses will proceed to meet a displaced Ukrainian family. 

Representatives of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and the Canada-Ukraine Foundation will discuss their partnership efforts to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine with The Prince and The Duchess. 

Tamara Rudenko-Charalambij, Director of the Pysanka for Peace workshops and other crafters will demonstrate how decorated Ukrainian Easter eggs, Pysanka, are made. These workshops are titled ‘Pysanka for Peace’ and all proceeds from the workshops have been donated to support humanitarian aid in Ukraine. 

Their Royal Highnesses will go on to meet Ms. Angie Reshitnyk, President of the Ottawa branch of the Ukrainian Women’s Association of Canada, who has organized the production of over 10,000 perogies, Varenyky, as a community fundraiser for Ukraine. Their Royal Highnesses will be invited to participate in the process of making varenyky with volunteers. 

Their Royal Highnesses will then briefly part. The Prince will meet the conductor and singers of AKORD, the Ukrainian Men’s Choir of Ottawa, who will be performing Ukrainian songs during visit. Meanwhile, The Duchess will meet students and teachers from the Ukrainian School of Lesia Ukrainka, which teaches Ukrainian grammar, history, geography, literature, and culture as part of the Heritage Language program operated by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. 

Finally, Their Royal Highnesses will see a Paschal basket display and learn about the food and decorative items in the basket and their symbolic meaning. 

Ukraine and Canada 

Canada is home to 1.4 million people of Ukrainian descent – the world’s third-largest Ukrainian population behind Ukraine itself and Russia. More than 100,000 Ukrainian Canadians reported Ukrainian as their mother tongue, and more than half live in the Prairie provinces. Ukrainian immigrants and their descendants have left a profound mark on the development of Canada. 

Notable Canadians of Ukrainian origin include: The Right Honourable Ramon John Hnatyshyn, Canada’s 24th Governor General; William Kurelek, a renowned painter; Roberta Bondar, the first Canadian woman to walk in space; The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance; as well as many players in the National Hockey League, such as Wayne Gretzky. 

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral 

The parish of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral is a part of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada and exists since 1949. The current venue on Byron Avenue has been home to the parish since 1978, when the Cathedral construction was completed. 

In October 2002, the parish choir participated in a Multi-Faith Thanksgiving Service on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, which celebrated the 50th year of the reign of Her Majesty. Both Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh were in attendance. 

Ukrainian Canadian Congress and Canada-Ukraine Foundation 

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) is an umbrella group for all the national, provincial, and local Ukrainian organizations in Canada. Together with its member organizations, the UCC has been leading, coordinating and representing the interests of one of Canada’s largest ethnic communities (1.4 million) since 1940. 

Since the Russian military invasion of Ukraine in February, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress has partnered with the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) to collect monetary donations to provide much needed humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine. 

Locally, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Ottawa Affiliate (UCC Ottawa) has mobilized to coordinate donations of supplies and funds, as well as coordinate displaced people arriving in the Ottawa area. UCC Ottawa is a volunteer-driven organization and has collected over 85,000lbs of sorted donations, and provided more than $250,000 worth of humanitarian aid packages to Ukraine. 

AKORD – Ukrainian Men’s Choir of Ottawa 

A four-part male choir, AKORD originated in 1993 in Ottawa with six men who shared an interest in Ukrainian sacred music. Since then, AKORD has broadened its repertoire to include more intricate choral music and Ukrainian folk songs. In addition to participating in many festivals in Ontario and Quebec, AKORD has also performed at the Canadian Museum of History, the National Gallery of Canada, on Parliament Hill, at the Prime Minister of Canada’s residence and at Rideau Hall. These concerts have increased awareness of Ukrainian choral masters and advanced the profile of Ukrainian music, contributing further to Canada’s rich cultural mosaic. 

Traditional Ukrainian Greeting of Bread and Salt 

This greeting is traditional at the beginning of all major events in the Ukrainian culture. Ukraine is known as the breadbasket of Europe because of all the wheat and other grains grown in the country. Ukrainians regard bread as one of the holiest of all foods. The round bread used for this traditional greeting is called Kolach, which is derived from the Ukrainian word “kolo” meaning circle, and is a symbol of good fortune, eternity, prosperity and a bountiful life. Salt is reflected in Christ’s words “You are the salt of the earth” and represents friendship. The Kolach and salt together are a humble and generous greeting for visitors. 

Varenyky 

Since Ukrainians first arrived in Canada in 1891, the humble combination of very simple ingredients of flour, water, eggs, potatoes, and onions has raised money that has built schools, churches, and community centres for Ukrainians to gather, preserve, and share their cultural traditions and heritage. 

Their Royal Highnesses and the Ukrainian Community 

In March 22, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall visited The Cathedral of the Holy Family , a Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in London where Their Royal Highnesses showed their support for the Ukrainian community. Their Royal Highnesses met a group of Ukrainian school children, their mothers, leaders within the Ukrainian community, representatives across faith communities, volunteers helping the humanitarian effort, and leaders of His Royal Highness’s charities working to support the relief effort in Ukraine. 

In April 22, Their Royal Highnesses visited BBC World Service in their 90th year to hear how they are continuing to report in Ukraine, Russia and Afghanistan. Their Royal Highnesses also met representatives of BBC News Ukraine and BBC News Russian to find out how their news operations continue. Joining a live link-up with reporters currently situated in Kyiv and Moscow, The Prince sent his best wishes to the people of Ukraine. 

ENGAGEMENT 8

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will visit local market producers and merchants at ByWard Market. 

On arrival, Their Royal Highnesses will be greeted by Mr. Bryan Chandler, Chairperson of Ottawa Markets and Mr. Zachary Dayler, the Executive Director of Ottawa Markets, who will both accompany Their Royal Highnesses throughout the tour. 

Their Royal Highnesses will meet and engage with six small business owners and market vendors who will share their experiences during the pandemic. These will include the oldest vendor in the ByWard Market, a meat stall, a woodwork stall and a Maple Country Sugar Bush stall where Their Royal Highnesses will learn of the maple production in the region. 

About the ByWard Market 

The ByWard Market was established in 1826 by Lieutenant-Colonel John By, who oversaw the construction of the Rideau Canal. The area was created as a commercial sector to support the builders of the Rideau Canal. Soon, stores, taverns, hotels, and residential and industrial buildings sprang up, and Rideau Canal labourers of mostly French-Canadian and Irish origin settled in. The ByWard Market is a vibrant neighbourhood in the heart of downtown Ottawa. It is one of Ottawa’s premier tourist destinations and an area where locals go to work, shop, dine and play. In the summer months, the area is home to farmers, producers, and makers of all backgrounds and experiences, coming to life at the start of May. Over the centuries, the market has evolved from the city’s outdoor grocery store into a public market space that is a home for everyone. As the area evolved, so did the architectural styles. Many of the original buildings still house a melting pot of businesses and cultures, all contributing to the area’s eclectic charm. 

The local market producers and merchants have redefined their role in the community in response to the global Covid-19 pandemic. 

Their Royal Highnesses support for local businesses 

Their Royal Highnesses continue to support the reopening of local high streets post lockdown, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall recently visited Clapham Old Town in recognition of its value to the local community. 

High Street and Hospitality 

Their Royal Highnesses are strong supporters of the High Street and hospitality sectors. 

• His Royal Highness acknowledged the challenges the hospitality industry faced during the pandemic with a message in July 2020, in which The Prince said, 

“I can only express my warmest appreciation for the resilience and fortitude shown by those in hospitality and offer my deepest sympathy to those who are struggling to keep their businesses going or are having to cope with the appalling misery of seeing their businesses go into administration.” 

• The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall regularly visit High Streets during away days. For instance they have previously met shop keepers and local businesses in Ballater and Salisbury. In May 2021, The Prince and The Duchess visited Clapham Old Town to celebrate the reopening of local high streets post lockdown, and in recognition of its value to the local community. 

ENGAGEMENT 9 

Their Royal Highnesses will visit Assumption School. His Royal Highness will meet newcomer families. Her Royal Highness will attend a youth literacy event. 

Their Royal Highnesses will be welcomed to the school by the Superintendent of Assumption School, Mr. Sean Kelly and The Principal of Assumption School, Ms Joanne Wink. Their Royal Highnesses will then part ways to carry out sperate programmes. 

His Royal Highness will meet with newcomer families to Canada and community organizations. 

Mr. Kelly will escort The Prince of Wales and other guests to the school gymnasium where he will introduce the Multicultural Liaison Officer (MLO) who helps run a program that addresses settlement and integration needs of refugee and immigrant families in Ottawa schools, to ensure a successful school experience for the students and support in the integration of families in the community. There will be various parents who will discuss their experiences of arriving in and settling in Canada from countries such as Nigeria and Cameroon and also staff from the school who are immigrants themselves. 

Parents of Assumption School students will then discuss their experiences of arriving in and settling in Canada with The Prince. The Prince of Wales will also meet Francophone families of the school, and will hear about their experiences settling in the French neighbourhood of Vanier. 

Meanwhile, The Duchess of Cornwall will attend a literacy-focused event with schoolchildren in the learning centre. 

Ms Joanne Wink will escort The Duchess of Cornwall on a short tour of the School, beginning with a Grade 5/6 French immersion class. The Duchess will then visit the learning commons the grade 1-2 class will explain how the learning commons is used for literacy activities such as a book club for the older students. 

Ms. Wink will then introduce The Duchess of Cornwall to Mr. Brian Warren, Founder and Executive Director of Start2Finish, who will discuss the partnership with the school to provide a new book vending machine, located within the learning commons. A student will demonstrate to Her Royal Highness how one chooses and retrieves a book from the vending machine. 

The Duchess of Cornwall will read to the students before moving onto Ms. Sarah Erskine’s Grade 5/6 French immersion class. 

Assumption School 

Assumption School is a junior kindergarten to grade six school of the Ottawa Catholic School Board. Located in Ottawa’s Vanier neighbourhood, Assumption’s school community includes many immigrant and refugee families, and a large Indigenous student population. Assumption has a French immersion program and a day-care for young children. 

Start2Finish Canada 

Launched in 2000, Start2Finish Canada (S2F) has grown to provide programming and resources for thousands of equity-seeking children in over 70 communities nationwide. The S2F approach, which is grounded on the belief that no child goes off the rails when someone has cared about his or her well-being, empowers children to create a cycle of success. A critical part of this approach focuses on Canada’s Indigenous children. The Indigenous Literacy Enhancement (“LIT”) Project, which Start2Finish is piloting this year, is committed to raising enough funds to provide innovative “book vending machines” filled with culturally relevant books to 12 Indigenous communities across Canada over the next 24 months, equipping more than 2,000 children with a total of 45,000 culturally relevant books. 

The MLO program addresses settlement and integration needs of refugee and immigrant families in Ottawa schools to ensure a successful school experience for the students and support in the integration of families in the community. This program is one of many provided by the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization to support newcomers to Canada. 

The Vending Machine Program 

Assumption is one of five schools in Canada selected for the vending machine program, which provides a new book monthly for each student in the school, for a period of three years. 

The Duchess and Literacy 

The Duchess is recognised as an important campaigner on literacy in the UK and internationally. As a grandmother, HRH understands the joy of reading, but also the importance of literacy in creating life opportunities. HRH has visited schools and libraries, as well as workplace reading schemes and prisons to see the work of adult literacy schemes. She has numerous patronages in the UK including the National Literacy Trust, First Story, Coram Beanstalk, Booktrust and has recently taken on the Patronage of Book Aif from HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. As Vice-Patron of the Royal Commonwealth Society, The Duchess supports its flagship literacy project The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition. Over the last few years Her Royal Highness has also attended overseas events launching the competition in New Zealand, St Vincent, Ghana, Gambia and Malaysia. 

In May 2020, The Duchess joined the film-maker Taika Waititi as a guest for a charitable reading of James and The Giant Peach by Roald Dahl on YouTube. The campaign, run by the Roald Dahl Story Company, also supported charities helping those affected by Covid-19. 

During Lockdown in 2020, Her Royal Highness published a list of her 9 favourite book recommendations over the Easter weekend, and shared 5 more in August. The hugely positive response to these lists prompted The Duchess to create an online space to continue this conversation, and in January 2021 The Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room Instagram account was launched – a community space for book lovers to visit, and to see videos, photographs and commentary from some of Her Royal Highness’s recommended authors. 

In March 2022, The Duchess of Cornwall launched a website for The Reading Room. 

ENGAGEMENT 10 

Their Royal Highnesses will attend an event with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). 

On arrival at the Stables, The Prince and The Duchess will be greeted by the Commissioner of the RCMP, Commissioner Brenda Lucki. The Commissioner will then introduce the Officer-in-Charge of the Musical Ride, Superintendent Kevin Fahey, the Corps Sergeant Major, Corps Sergeant Major Al McCambridge and the Ride Master, Sergeant Major Scott Williamson. 

Inside the stables, Their Royal Highnesses will inspect and engage with ride members and their horses. The Prince and The Duchess will also meet with other trades of the Musical Ride, including a mare and foal with their handlers from the R.C.M.P.’s breeding farm, equestrian trainers, and farriers. 

Their Royal Highnesses will then visit The Musical Ride Centre, which was opened in 2002 by Her Majesty the Queen and will be briefly shown the various landaus used by members of the Royal Family and vice-regal officers throughout the decades. 

As Honorary Commissioner of the RCMP, His Royal Highness will take the opportunity to present Commissioner Lucki with her Long Service Medal and clasp, recognizing 35 years of service. (Please note – this element is a surprise.) 

Their Royal Highnesses will then proceed to the reviewing stand to watch a command performance of the Musical Ride. Invitees to view the Musical Ride performance will include first responders representing fire, paramedic, healthcare, older people from care/retirement homes and law enforcement organizations from across Ottawa and Gatineau and their families, and students from schools in the neighbourhood. 

The RCMP 

The relationship between the RCMP and the Royal Family extends back to 1897, when a contingent of the North-West Mounted Police (as it was then named) paraded in London for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. The sight of the red-coated Riders of the Western Canadian Plains so captivated Londoners that the British newspapers coined the word “Mounties” to describe them. 

A North-West Mounted Police contingent participated in the Coronation of King Edward VII in 1902 and the King personally awarded the Coronation Medal to each of the riders. It was in the 1904 Coronation Honours that His Majesty granted the prefix “royal” to the name. 

It is the horses of the Musical Ride that have made the connection between The Queen and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police so special and unique. 

Beginning with “Burmese” in 1969, followed by “Centennial” in 1973, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has given horses from the Musical Ride to Her Majesty and vice versa. Her Majesty The Queen was appointed Honourary Commissioner of the RCMP following her coronation in 1953. Since 2012, The Queen has been Commissioner-in-Chief of the RCMP and the position of Honourary Commissioner was passed to the Prince of Wales. 

The riders of the Musical Ride are police officers at the rank of constable with at least three years of service in operational law enforcement. Riders generally stay three years with the ride, the first being instruction with the following two years active touring. 

Every year, the Musical Ride tour and perform in different regions of Canada, and internationally on occasion. In the United Kingdom, the Musical Ride have participated in the parade at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, in 1957 at the Royal Edinburgh Tattoo, in 1969 across the UK, and most recently in 2012 at the Royal Windsor Horse Show and in 2016 honouring The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and 90th birthday, respectively. 

During COVID-19, the Musical Ride has been unable to tour during, though they have occasionally performed for smaller crowds locally. This command performance represents the first time since the start of the pandemic that the Ride has performed for a larger audience and is their first performance of the 2022 tour. 

In celebration of the Platinum Jubilee, Supt. Fahey and five members of the Musical Ride will participate in the Royal Windsor Horse Show from 12th – 15th May 2022. 

The RCMP Guidon 

On parade will also be the RCMP Guidon, consecrated in 1973 by Her Majesty the Queen for the RCMP’s centennial celebrations, and paraded only for certain events including an inspection by a ceremonial commissioner. 

ENGAGEMENT 11 

His Royal Highness will meet with those helped by the 30 Birds Foundation and attend a Prince’s Trust engagement at the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. 

His Royal Highness will be greeted by John Geiger CEO, Royal Canadian Geographical Society on arrival at the Society. Inside, His Royal Highness will meet Mark Fell, Chair, Prince’s Trust Canada who will introduce The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. Mark Fell and Her Honour will accompany The Prince as he speaks with young women who have settled in Canada after fleeing the recent conflict in Afghanistan, as well as representatives of the 30 Birds Foundation program that aided their resettlement. 

His Royal Highness will then be met by Sharon Broughton, CEO, Prince’s Trust Canada and introduced to Prince’s Trust Canada representatives and program participants. His Royal Highness will meet veterans who have started their own businesses, young people who have overcome barriers to secure employment, and partners who make the impact possible. 

Before departure, His Royal Highness will sign the Royal Canadian Geographical Society Visitor’s Book. 

30 Birds Foundation 

The 30 Birds Foundation is dedicated to safeguarding the future of a group of 450 Afghans, predominantly schoolgirls, who we have evacuated from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. 

In August 2021, as the Taliban took Afghanistan, hundreds of schoolgirls went into hiding. The Taliban prohibits girls’ education past age 11, and many feared being forced into “marriage” with Taliban fighters, having seen similar atrocities happening in other provinces. To help them, a team of 8 ordinary citizens, journalists, lawyers, human rights activists and Afghan ex-pats incorporated as the 30 Birds. 

After evacuating the school’s founder and his family, they turned their attention to the girls who, as young athletes, artists, medics and musicians, were also receiving death threats from the Taliban. Determined to continue their education, these girls played an active role in coordinating their own escape. Under duress, moving in small numbers from city to city and past Taliban checkpoints, they would eventually help the 30 Birds guide more than 400 Afghans, including family members and various activists for female education safely across the border. Thanks to the humanitarian support of many, including the Canadian and Pakistani governments, and the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, the first half of this community, evacuated in September made it to Canada where they are now flourishing. Unfortunately, the 2nd half, evacuated a month later, have remained stranded and in hiding in Pakistan since October 2021, while their futures are negotiated. They include 50 single girls, mostly aged 18-25, who were forced to flee without their families.

The Royal Canadian Geographical Society 

In 2017, The Royal Canadian Geographical Society set out to transform a vacant building at 50 Sussex Drive in Ottawa into a permanent home for one of Canada’s oldest and most distinguished royal societies. Located along Confederation Boulevard — an important ceremonial route in the nation’s capital that connects Parliament to Rideau Hall — this modernist structure of stone, glass and steel overlooks a waterfall, three rivers and two provinces. It has panoramic-view galleries, a boardroom and meeting spaces. The lower level is home to the 300-plus-seat Alex Trebek Theatre. 

Prince’s Trust Canada 

Prince’s Trust Canada is a national charity whose vision is a sustainable future for Canada, where young people and communities thrive. Through innovative partnerships and guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, they contribute to an inclusive and sustainable future for Canada by helping equity-deserving young people and veterans explore, prepare for, and gain access to purposeful, good green jobs. Their programs help young people overcome barriers to employment and prepare for the future of work, provide entrepreneurship training and support for veterans, and address climate change mitigation and adaptation. Their work is inspired by the Founder and President, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, and is driven by his vision for a more sustainable future. 

ENGAGEMENT 12

The Prince of Wales will meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Rideau Hall. 

Prior to the sustainable economy roundtable in which the Prime Minister will also participate, His Royal Highness will meet with Minister Justin Trudeau in the Large Drawing Room at Rideau Hall. 

The Large Drawing Room serves as a formal gathering room for guests both before and after events. The room is also used to entertain visiting Heads of State and their suite. Previously the “Red Salon”, this state room was added to the Residence in 1865-1866. In 1901, the room underwent extensive renovations. During the Victorian era, women retired to the Large Drawing Room where they would take tea, sew, play music and embroider. It was also here that the family would receive guests. Since its construction, it has always been used as a reception room. The artwork chosen to embellish its walls are all created by Canadian women. 

His Royal Highness has previously met Prime Minister Trudeau on several occasions including at COP26 and G7 last year. 

ENGAGEMENT 13 

The Prince of Wales will attend a Sustainable Finance Engagement event with CEOs of Canadian Companies at the John G. Diefenbaker Building. 

His Royal Highness and the Prime Minister will be greeted outside by Honourable Steven Guilbeault, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. 

They will then join a round-table discussion led by Environment and Climate Change Canada with approximately 40 representatives from a variety of policy and business backgrounds from across Canada. 

His Royal Highness and The Prime Minister are expected to offer remarks. Closing remarks will be made by The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. 

There will be an opportunity for a group photograph at the conclusion of the visit. 

Environment and Climate Change Canada 

Environment and Climate Change Canada is the lead federal department for a wide range of environmental issues, including climate change. Last year, Canada increased its ambition on climate change under the Paris Agreement and committed to reduce its emissions by 40-45% below 2005 levels by 2030. 

Earlier this year the Department released its 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan, which highlights the many actions already driving significant emissions reductions in Canada as well as the new measures that will ensure they reach their emissions reduction target. This Plan includes $9.1 billion in new investments, and reflects economy-wide measures such as carbon pricing and clean fuels, while also targeting actions sector by sector ranging from buildings to vehicles to industry and agriculture. While the Department leads Canada’s efforts on climate change it also recognizes the need to work with strategic partners including provinces, territories, Indigenous Peoples, industry and stakeholders to drive ambitious action. 

The John G. Diefenbaker Building 

The John G. Diefenbaker Building is the former Ottawa City Hall. In 2011, it was renamed after the 13th Prime minister of Canada. Now operated by Public Services and Procurement Canada, the building consists of three integrated pavilions and is located on the national capital’s Ceremonial Route. 

ENGAGEMENT 14 

Their Royal Highnesses will meet with Governor General Mary Simon and His Excellency Whit Grant Fraser. Their Royal Highnesses will then attend an evening reception hosted by the Governor General to celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee at Rideau Hall. 

Their Royal Highnesses meet with the Governor General, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, and her spouse, His Excellency Whit Grant Fraser, in the Large Drawing Room at Rideau Hall. 

At the conclusion of the meeting, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Mrs Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, will arrive at the Large Drawing Room to join Their Royal Highnesses and Their Excellencies as they proceed to the Tent Room for the reception at Rideau Hall. 

Guests at the reception will include a wide variety of Canadians who have dedicated their lives to serving their community. Representatives from Their Royal Highnesses Regiments, other stakeholders and the national Platinum Jubilee commemorative projects will also be in attendance. 

Their Royal Highness will meet with guests in the Tent Room and the Long Gallery. Her Excellency will accompany His Royal Highness, His Excellency with The Duchess of Cornwall, and the Prime Minister with his spouse. 

Their Royal Highnesses met with Their Excellencies most recently in March 2022 in the UK. 

This was the first official meeting of the Governor General with The Prince of Wales since her installation. 

Their Royal Highnesses will also have an opportunity to interact with Their Excellencies in earlier events of this Royal Tour, including events in St. John’s, NL; upon arrival at Rideau Hall on the evening of May 17th; during the morning presentation of the Order of Military Merit at Rideau Hall; and at the National War Memorial ceremony on May 18th. 

Individuals from a range of categories, including parliamentarians, National Indigenous Leaders, military representatives from Their Royal Highnesses’ Household Regiments, and representatives from civil society whose work aligns with Their Royal Highnesses’ Priorities will attend the reception. 

THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL VISIT CANADA – Day One

St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador

Tuesday, 17th May

ARRIVAL 

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall arrive in St John’s. 

ENGAGEMENT 1 

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will attend the Official Welcome Ceremony at Confederation Building. 

On arrival, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will be greeted by The Governor General of Canada and her spouse, His Excellency Whit Grant Fraser and The Prime Minister of Canada, The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau. A group of local dignitaries and senior representatives of the main Indigenous communities will also attend the ceremony. 

His Royal Highness will take the Royal Salute, inspect the Guard of Honour, and take the Final Salute. 

Their Royal Highnesses will then watch the ceremony which will include a number of artistic and cultural performances representing Newfoundland and Labrador’s rich tradition of song and story. Speeches will be delivered by the Governor General of Canada, the Prime Minister, the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and finally by The Prince. 

Their Royal Highnesses will sign the Golden Book and the Provincial Guest Book before departure. 

Confederation Building serves as the home of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly. The building originally housed all provincial departments in the 1960s. 

The building is located on Confederation Hill, along Prince Phillip Parkway and it overlooks the city of St. John’s, the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador. 

Notable landmarks are visible from this location including, The Narrows – the only passage from the Atlantic Ocean to St. John’s Harbour and Cabot Tower – built in 1897 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee and the 400th anniversary of John Cabot’s landing. The building opened in 1900. 

ENGAGEMENT 2 

Their Royal Highnesses will visit Government House to meet with representatives of the local communities, businesses and organisations.

Their Royal Highnesses will be greeted by The Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, Her Honour The Honourable Judy May Foote and His Honour Howard William Foote. 

Their Royal Highnesses will then attend a solemn ceremony in the Heart Garden joined by Indigenous leaders from across Newfoundland and Labrador. A smudging ceremony will take place followed by a prayer by the President of NunatuKavut Community Council. The Lieutenant Governor will then speak about the meaning of the garden. 

All will observe a moment of silence to honour and remember the Indigenous children who attended residential schools in Labrador and Northern Newfoundland. 

To close the ceremony, local schoolchildren will plant paper hearts in the garden with messages of reconciliation while a solemn Indigenous musical performance is given by musical group, Eastern Owl. 

His Royal Highness will then proceed to The Dining Room, where he will be met by Mr. Matthew Rowe, CEO of The Campaign for Wool in Canada who will present a small group of key partners and supporters. 

Mr. Rowe will then introduce Ms. Keelin O’Leary, Manager of NONIA, who will speak about the organization’s rich history and ties to Government House. NONIA knitters will showcase various wool knitting projects and speak about their involvement in the organization and the communities where they live. Representatives of NONIA will show His Royal Highness some pieces on display, including a replica of the baby cardigan given by NONIA to Her Majesty after the birth of The Prince in 1948. 

His Royal Highness will then be introduced to Rosemarie Péloquin, a Franco-Manitoban artist who will show her needle-felted Canadian wool sculptures of The Prince and Her Majesty The Queen. The sculpture of Her Majesty was created especially for the Platinum Jubilee. Ms. Péloquin will also demonstrate her techniques and speak to the challenges of creating the works. 

Their Royal Highnesses will then proceed to the Commonwealth Walkway, a commemorative Platinum Jubilee project, where Their Royal Highnesses will be greeted by members of the public and local community organizations including Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award recipients. 

Finally, Their Royal Highnesses will unveil a bronze marker to commemorate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee and continue along the walkway to observe schoolchildren plant an Ivory Silk Lilac tree in the heart of the walkway to help launch the Queen’s Green Canopy project on the grounds. 

Government House 

Their Royal Highnesses previously visited Government House during the 2009 Royal Tour. The current Government House is Newfoundland and Labrador’s third Vice-Regal residence. Sir Thomas Cochrane, Governor from 1825 to 1834, made the provision of new accommodations a condition of his acceptance of his appointment. 

The Heart Garden 

The Heart Garden at Government House is the first in Newfoundland and Labrador, unveiled in 2019. It follows the national joint initiative by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Project of Heart, KAIROS, and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, which encouraged individuals, schools, and community groups to plant heart gardens in memory of children lost to the residential school system, to honour residential school survivors and their families, and to support the legacy of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. 

Smudging 

Smudging is a cultural ceremony practiced by a wide variety of Indigenous Peoples in Canada and other parts of the world. Although practices differ, smudging is used for medicinal and practical purposes as well as for spiritual ceremonies. The practice generally involves prayer and the burning of sacred medicines, such as sweetgrass, cedar, sage, and tobacco. 

Although Indigenous nations have their own culturally specific smudging traditions, they typically share certain teachings. For example, all smudging ceremonies require some sort of vessel to carry the medicinal herbs, such as a special container, shell, smudge stick or ball. Burned in small amounts, the herbs contained in the vessel produce smoke that is said to have healing powers and carry the prayers of the people to the Creator. 

The Campaign for Wool in Canada 

The Campaign for Wool was launched in Canada by Their Royal Highnesses in Pictou, Nova Scotia during their May 2014 Royal Tour. The Campaign is The Prince’s global endeavour to raise awareness of the unique, natural, and sustainable benefits of wool, and currently runs across the world in 13 different countries. 

The Campaign is a platform for engagement and education; showing Canadians the benefits of wool as a fibre as well as the importance of supporting their domestic wool industry with an annual program of activations and media partnerships in the fields of fashion, interior design, and fine art, centred around Canadian Wool Month (October). 

The campaign is delivered by the Canadian Wool Council, a non-profit organization focused on developing practical opportunities for Canadian wool and the Canadians who transform it. 

NONIA 

The Newfoundland Outport Nursing and Industrial Association (NONIA) was incorporated as a non-profit business in 1924 after being founded at Government House in 1920. It was established to assist Newfoundland outport communities to access health services, by raising money from the sale of hand-knit garments to pay the salaries of public health nurses. In 1934, the health care portion of NONIA’s operation was taken over by the government but the industrial side was maintained and continues today in much the same tradition as when it was founded. 

Today NONIA is a non-profit organization that is managed by a volunteer Board of Directors and a small staff at its retail location in St. John’s. NONIA is a manufacturing and retail operation employing 175 knitters and weavers across the province, who produce NONIA’s well known hand-knit sweaters, socks, hats, and mitts for infants to adults as well as woven placemats, runners, napkins, and scarves. 

The Commonwealth Walkway 

To mark Her Majesty The Queen’s historic Platinum Jubilee celebration, Newfoundland and Labrador is completing a commemorative initiative—the development of a Commonwealth Walkway on the grounds of Government House. 

The walkway will be one kilometre in distance, winding through more than 50 commemorative trees that have been planted over the years to recognize visits by Royalty—including from other countries; Governors General, Lieutenant Governor’s, Premier’s, and other notable dignitaries. 

The Commonwealth Walkway will also encompass tree and shrub plantings from The Queen’s Green Canopy—a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee. Additionally, certain historical aspects of the Government House property—such as the Old Garrison Hospital, built in 1805—will be highlighted throughout the walkway. 

The Commonwealth Walkway connects every nation and territory in the Commonwealth. It is designed to link and interpret local heritage, engage people in their shared history and tradition, promote the Commonwealth principles and values of diversity, equality and friendship. 

ENGAGEMENT 3 

Their Royal Highnesses will tour Quidi Vidi Village during which they will visit Quidi Vidi Village Artisan Studios and walk along the Harbour. 

Their Royal Highnesses will make their way to the boardwalk where there will be a brief photo opportunity. 

Their Royal Highnesses will then be introduced to representatives for the Quidi Vidi Village Artisan Studios. Business Advisor, Melissa Tarrant, will explain the Artisan Studios’ role in developing artists and their work into sustainable businesses. 

Their Royal Highnesses will part and engage with the artists including the Angora Borealis, wool spinning station, listed as an endangered craft by Heritage NL. 

Their Royal Highnesses will re-convene at a table set up to demonstrate a traditional craft of Atlantic Canada – rug hooking and be invited to start the first stitches in a collaborative community art project called ‘Come Home Year 2022’. 

The Prince and The Duchess will then make their way to the harbour where they will have the opportunity to enjoy local entertainment, live music and speak with members of the community, local vendors and fisherman at their boats moored alongside the boardwalk. There will also be an opportunity to meet a Newfoundland dog named “Chief”. 

Quidi Vidi Village 

Quidi Vidi Village is a picturesque neighbourhood of St. John’s which has been a traditional fishing village and a continued representation of a Newfoundland and Labrador outport fishing community. 

Quidi Vidi Village Artisan Studios 

The Quidi Vidi Village Artisan Studios (formerly Quidi Vidi Village Plantation) was established following a joint investment in 2010 by the Government of Canada and the City of St. John’s to rehabilitate a former fishing plantation into a city-owned multi-purpose artisan incubator to support the local arts community and advance the region’s tourism industry. 

The Artisan Studios is an arts-based business incubator with 10 studio spaces. A rotating number of emerging artisans rent out a studio where they will work, have an opportunity to sell to the public at the Artisan Studios, and to grow their business. The organization provides them with tools such as workshops and training in areas such as creating online stores, leveraging social media, marketing, navigating the postal system as a commercial entity, and other skills so they can maximize their potential as emerging entrepreneurs. Artists generally stay an upwards of 4-5 years at the Artisan Studios. 

Come Home Year 2022 

Come Home Year 2022 is an initiative of the Newfoundland and Labrador Government in response to the effects of COVID-19 on the tourism industry to encourage expat Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and former residents of the province to return home for a visit, remind current residents of the province of the wonders in their own ‘backyard,’ and expand ongoing marketing efforts to welcome non-resident visitors to the province. 

The Harbour 

The harbour area of Quidi Vidi (the land which is now commercially called The Wharf at Quidi Vidi) was recently repurposed as a summer tourist attraction. Since 2021, land proprietor and local businessman Mark Dobbin has installed infrastructure including a large tent for events, washrooms, ice cream stand and picnic tables for use as a public space and able to accommodate local food trucks. 

ENGAGEMENT 4 

Their Royal Highnesses will visit the Quidi Vidi Brewery. 

Their Royal Highnesses will walk from the Harbour to Quidi Vidi Brewery. Brewery founder and owner, David Fong and Brewery Marketing and Sales Director Justin Fong will escort Their Royal Highnesses to the brewery taproom. Their Royal Highnesses will learn about the unique elements of the brewery’s signature Iceberg beer, made from 20,000 year-old water harvested from icebergs which migrate seasonally to Newfoundland and Labrador and sample both the beer and iceberg water. Their Royal Highnesses will also have the opportunity to pour their own. 

The Prince and The Duchess will then meet with locals including Mr. Mark Critch, well-known Canadian, Comedian, Actor and Writer and entrepreneurs of Newfoundland and Labrador’s culinary community. They will introduce Their Royal Highnesses to the traditional cuisine, the emerging culinary scene and the unique bounty of sustainable food from Newfoundland and Labrador. Foraged wild edibles and food samples will be on display. 

Finally, David Fong will talk with Their Royal Highnesses about the history of Quidi Vidi as an outport community, the effects of the cod moratorium on the local fishing community, and the repurposing of industrial buildings from fishing to new economical ventures such as brewing and arts. 

Quidi Vidi Brewery 

Founded in 1996 by David Fong in a former fish processing plant, the brewery is the oldest craft brewery and third-largest brewer in Newfoundland. Currently, over 25 different brews are offered year round; including the famous blue bottled Iceberg Beer, which is made with 20,000 year old iceberg water harvested from icebergs off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.