2011 royal tour of Canada
Encyclopedia
The 2011 royal tour of Canada by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, took place between June 30 and July 8, 2011. The tour saw the newlywed couple visit all of Canada's regions: Western Canada
, Central Canada
, Atlantic Canada
, and Northern Canada
. It is the first such tour undertaken by the Duke and Duchess since their marriage two months prior, and the first duties the couple carried out as members of the Canadian Royal Family. The tour was followed by more than 1,300 accredited media. It included the first use of the Duke of Cambridge's royal standard for Canada, the first Canadian citizenship ceremony with attendance by royalty, Canada Day
ceremonies attended by approximately 800,000 people, and many smaller events across the country.
, as part of a naval contingent.
The tour was organised by Kevin S. MacLeod, Canadian Secretary to the Queen
, who has organised every royal visit to Canada since 1987. Tour organization took only three months instead of the usual 12. The couple travelled with a pared-down entourage of seven, including British police that have no jurisdiction in Canada. MacLeod let them make the tour much less formal than some previous. The inclusion of Prince Edward Island
, at the apparent request of Catherine, stands in contrast to previous tours. The 1983 tour of Canada by Prince Charles and newly-wed Diana reflected his interests, as well as Canadian priorities, but none of Diana's own interests.
1,300 journalists were accredited for this tour, including 241 foreign ones. The tour included a chartered plane to PEI. British news outlet ITN filmed a documentary on the tour.
, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, David McGuinty
, Ottawa South
MP, William JS Elliott, Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
, and Jim Watson, Mayor of Ottawa.
The couple proceeded to a wreath laying at the Canadian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
, at the Canadian National War Memorial
, their first public event as a couple since the wedding. After meeting with veterans, their first walkabout as a couple was considered unhurried, as they were 10 minutes late for their next appearance.
The Duke and Duchess then headed to Rideau Hall
, residence of the Governor General of Canada
, for their official Welcome to Canada and Ottawa Ceremony by Governor General David Johnston
; attendance turnout was around 6,000 people, double the turnout of people at the War Memorial. The Duke inspected the Guard of Honour, including the Army
, the Air Force
and the Navy
. The Royal Salute, composed by King Edward VIII
, played on bagpipes. The event was followed with a Celebration of Youth Barbecue Reception at Rideau Hall.
On Canada Day, July 1, on what would have been Diana, Princess of Wales
' 50th birthday, the couple attended a citizenship ceremony at the Canadian Museum of Civilization
; this was the first time that members of the Royal Family participated in a Canadian citizenship ceremony. The Sons of Scotland played as they entered was "St. Andrews Courtship", a work by piper Bethany Bisaillion, created for them. The event attracted protesters who strumed guitars and wave placards outside event, in protest of mandatory pledging allegiance to the Queen. This was followed by the Canada Day Parliament Hill
Noon Show, a public event, arriving in the State Landau. Performers included the Sam Roberts Band
, Great Big Sea
, Corb Lund
, and Maria Aragon
. The show was broadcast on CBC
Television and radio in English and French. The couple returned in the evening for additional performances, and fireworks; this was considered a significant security risk.
The royals began July 2 at the Canadian War Museum
, unveiling the mural "The Canadians Opposite Lens" by Augustus John
. From there, the couple proceeded to Montreal, Quebec
's Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport
. Outside their first stop, Sainte-Justine University Hospital Centre, Reseau de Resistance du Quebecois (RRQ) protesters' bilingual placards called the royals "parasites". Onlookers and well-wishers outnumbered the protester "10 to 1", according to media reports. The RRQ had hired 40 security guards to keep their protesters in check. Entering the hospital swiftly, the Duke and Duchess were at the hospital to meet with patients and their families.
The couple received cooking classes at l’Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec. The Mouvement pacifique pour l'independance du Quebec was planning to protest the visit by dressing in peasant costumes, outside the Institute.
The couple departed from Montréal for Québec City at 9:55 pm, on HMCS Montréal
.
After saying Morning Prayer with the crew of HMCS Montréal, the ship docked at Quebec City, Québec
. Crowds gathered on the boardwalk to Chateau Frontenac
, and along to the Plains of Abraham
. The couple will tour la Maison Dauphine, an organization which serves street youth, where they will have a private talk with a small group, to here the youth's stories.
The first public event of the day was just after noon, a Freedom of the City Ceremony at Québec City Hall
(Hôtel de ville de Québec). William's speech, delivered entirely in French, included "You, the Quebecois and Quebecoise, have such vitality and vigour. It is simply a pleasure to be here." Sovereigntist group Reseau de Resistance du Quebecois expected 300 protesters for their demonstration outside City Hall; media reported about 200 showed up. Protesters noted that they did have a plane flyover city hall with a separatist banner.
The next public event is a community celebration in Lévis, Quebec
, touring Fort Numéro Un de Lévis
. From there, they went to Charlottetown
, Prince Edward Island
for the evening.
The royal couple arrived in Montreal in the evening and attended a cooking class with students at the Institut de Tourisme et d'Hotellerie du Québec. Jean Charest, the premier of Quebec, and his wife accompanied the couple in the class. The two couples had supper together after the short workshop. Upon their arrival at the Institut, the couple was greeted by approximately 500 fans and protesters.
After visiting Province House
, PEI's provincial legislature at Charlottetown, the couple learned of Canadian military accomplishments in Prince Edward Island National Park
, before William took part in "a training session for the 'waterbird' emergency landing procedure in a Sea King helicopter at Dalvay-by-the-Sea
." The day was rainy. At the hotel, a National Historic Site of Canada, the couple was welcomed to PEI by a traditional Miqmah smudging ceremony, and sampled several kinds of local foods. Aboriginal, Acadian and Celtic cultural and culinary traditions. The couple challenged each other to a dragon boat
race. William's team won by half a length. Then on Dalvay Beach the couple chatted with beach volleyball players, sand castle builders and baked-lobster chefs. The final public event of the day was in Summerside
, where the couple watched a Search and Rescue exercise at Summerside Harbour with the Canadian Coast Guard
. The couple then flew to Yellowknife Airport
, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories arriving in the early evening.
Local actors playing characters Anne Shirley
and Matthew Cuthbert (Tess Benger and Kris Tusler) in Anne of Green Gables – The Musical appeared as guests. The province was Catherine's choice for the tour.
At 11:40 am, Tuesday, July 5, the couple participated in a public event, an Official Arrival to the Northwest Territories
. William and Catherine arrived at Somba K’e Civic Plaza to take part in Aboriginal traditions and activities, including traditional drumming, dancing and sports. The ceremony was to highlight the historic and continuing cooperation between the Northwest Territories’ Aboriginal peoples and residents of other cultures. The Duke's speech included the phrase "thank you" in both the Na-Dene
and Inuvialuktun languages. In a street hockey game, Prince William took three shots on goal, but the young goaltender kept him from scoring.
A session of the Youth Parliament at the Legislative Assembly was followed by a visit to Blachford Lake
, which included the First Canadian Ranger Patrol Group
and Dechinta: Bush University Centre for Research and Learning
.
The original public schedule for Wednesday, July 6 was listed as a day off for the royal couple. The unannounced stop was made in Slave Lake
, Alberta
where the royal couple toured the town that was partially destroyed by a wildfire
in May. Arriving at the town's airport, the couple met with Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach
and the Mayor of Slave Lake, Karina Pillay-Kinnee. They met with emergency services personnel from the fire department, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
and the medical response team at Northern Lakes College. At the gym of Northern Lakes College
, the couple met with some of the families affected by the fire. The town was in the midst of dealing with flooding of Sawridge Creek. At 1:30 pm, they went back to the Slave Lake Airport and continued on their way to Calgary. They spent the night at the private Skoki Ski Lodge
, a National Historic Site near Lake Louise
, within the Rocky Mountain-area Banff National Park
. Much of the press coverage for this part of the tour discussed the remoteness of the site, which includes only outhouses. No official comment was made on whether it was retrofitted, at least temporarily.
Arriving in Calgary in the afternoon, at Calgary International Airport
, the Duke and Duchess were presented with the usual headgear in the White Hat Ceremony, but didn't wear them. They toured the University of Calgary
Ward of the 21st Century Research and Innovation Centre (W21C), and attended an evening Government of Canada reception at the BMO
Stampede Park. The latter included the creation of the The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's Parks Canada
Youth Ambassadors Program. The city gave free wristbands to public events, to lessen the volume of people.
The first event of the Friday, July 8, the day for the couple was to launch the Calgary Stampede Parade at Bow Valley College
. The parade is run by the same organization as the top-level rodeo event itself. The parade attracted a record crowd of 425,000 people.
The Vancouver Humane Society, the League Against Cruel Sports, and Fight Against Animal Cruelty had all asked that the royal couple not visit the Stampede, deeming it animal cruelty; People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
(PETA) suggested that they were approaching a "hotbed of controversy". If they don't cancel the event, PETA called on locals to protest at the event. The stampede has often attracted animal rights activists, on years without special guests. A horse died of a leg injury in the Stampede's first night, in spite of an "extensive overhaul to its animal care standards".
Barred from attending the 2010 Stampede parade, attempts to block street preacher Art Pawlowski were unsuccessful. He planned to have his group march following the parade proper, or set up a protest. There were no reports on whether he followed through.
Later events included a reception at the ENMAX Conservatory, Calgary Zoo
, hosted by the Alberta Government, and a public Official Departure Ceremony. Finally, after a nine-day Canadian tour that "far exceeded" expectations, according to Prince William, and was by all accounts a huge success, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge boarded a plane for their last stop in North America, a visit to Los Angeles.
jet bound for Los Angeles
. Upon arrival in the Californian city they were greeted by the Canadian Consul-General, California Governor Jerry Brown
and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
. Being greeted by the Canadian Consul-General first, Prince William had departed Canada
as a Prince of Canada rather than a foreign prince. On July 9, the couple attended the inaugural BAFTA
Brits to Watch event at the downtown Belasco Theater.
. Even when wearing foreign designers, as on Canada Day, the white-dress outfit had domestic influences such a red hat with fabric maple leaves, and Queen Elizabeth II's maple leaf brooch first worn during her 1951 tour of Canada.
CBS News
royal contributor Victoria Arbiter suggested Catherine might wear 40 outfits on the trip.
Public events during the tour drew big crowds. On Canada Day at Parliament Hill, attendance was 300,000 in the morning, and a half-million in the evening. The National Capital Commission had speculated half a million would show up at the morning event.
The Canadian tour become a subject of controversy, as the Royal couple planned to attend the annual Calgary Stampede
, an event that features steer busting and calf roping
and is condemned by animal welfare experts. The rodeo was banned in England in 1934. Animal Rights groups from Britain and Canada have written to Clarence House
urging the couple not to attend the event.
The tour attracted small crowds and protests in the province of Quebec. Quebec MNA Amir Khadir
referred to the royal couple as "parasites" ahead of the visit, calling the tour "a waste of public funds". In Montreal
they were met by approximately 500 supporters and 100 protesters and in Quebec City
they were met by several hundred supporters and about 200 protesters, some wearing black and waving flags.
Though official popularity numbers have yet to be released, many accounts have touted the royal tour as a positive turn around in Canadian support of the crown. Since the royal wedding and the conclusion of the royal tour, there has been a distinctly youth motivated recognition of William and Cathrine as not foreign royalty but as Canadian royalty and William as the future King of Canada.
Western Canada
Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces and commonly as the West, is a region of Canada that includes the four provinces west of the province of Ontario.- Provinces :...
, Central Canada
Central Canada
Central Canada is a region consisting of Canada's two largest and most populous provinces: Ontario and Quebec. Due to their high populations, Ontario and Quebec have traditionally held a significant amount of political power in Canada, leading to some amount of resentment from other regions of the...
, Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
, and Northern Canada
Northern Canada
Northern Canada, colloquially the North, is the vast northernmost region of Canada variously defined by geography and politics. Politically, the term refers to the three territories of Canada: Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut...
. It is the first such tour undertaken by the Duke and Duchess since their marriage two months prior, and the first duties the couple carried out as members of the Canadian Royal Family. The tour was followed by more than 1,300 accredited media. It included the first use of the Duke of Cambridge's royal standard for Canada, the first Canadian citizenship ceremony with attendance by royalty, Canada Day
Canada Day
Canada Day , formerly Dominion Day , is the national day of Canada, a federal statutory holiday celebrating the anniversary of the July 1, 1867, enactment of the British North America Act , which united three British colonies into a single country, called Canada, within the British Empire...
ceremonies attended by approximately 800,000 people, and many smaller events across the country.
Background
The tour fell on the 225th anniversary of the first royal visit to Canada, by then Prince William, later known as King William IVWilliam IV of the United Kingdom
William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death...
, as part of a naval contingent.
The tour was organised by Kevin S. MacLeod, Canadian Secretary to the Queen
Canadian Secretary to the Queen
The Canadian Secretary to the Queen is the senior operational member of the Royal Household of the sovereign of Canada. The secretary is the principal channel of communication between the Queen and her Canadian government, provincial governments, and the governments of the fifteen other...
, who has organised every royal visit to Canada since 1987. Tour organization took only three months instead of the usual 12. The couple travelled with a pared-down entourage of seven, including British police that have no jurisdiction in Canada. MacLeod let them make the tour much less formal than some previous. The inclusion of Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
, at the apparent request of Catherine, stands in contrast to previous tours. The 1983 tour of Canada by Prince Charles and newly-wed Diana reflected his interests, as well as Canadian priorities, but none of Diana's own interests.
1,300 journalists were accredited for this tour, including 241 foreign ones. The tour included a chartered plane to PEI. British news outlet ITN filmed a documentary on the tour.
Itinerary
On Thursday, June 30, the couple departed Britain for Canada, travelling on a Canadian military plane. Upon landing at Macdonald-Cartier International Airport on Thursday, June 30, the cockpit showed the Duke of Cambridge's Personal Canadian Flag; the newly adopted flag was previewed only the day before by Canadian federal government officials. Among the dignitaries greeting the couple were John BairdJohn Baird (Canadian politician)
John Russell Baird, PC, MP is a Canadian politician currently serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the cabinet of Prime Minister Stephen Harper....
, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, David McGuinty
David McGuinty
David Joseph McGuinty, MP is a Canadian lawyer politician from Ontario, Canada. He is the Member of Parliament for the riding of Ottawa South and sits in the Canadian House of Commons as the Liberal Party of Canada's Critic for Natural Resources...
, Ottawa South
Ottawa South
Ottawa South is a federal electoral district in Ottawa in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is represented in the Canadian House of Commons by David McGuinty, brother of Ontario Premier and Ottawa South MPP Dalton McGuinty. The riding was created in 1987 from parts of Ottawa—Vanier, Ottawa...
MP, William JS Elliott, Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
, and Jim Watson, Mayor of Ottawa.
The couple proceeded to a wreath laying at the Canadian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Canadian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
The Canadian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is located at the National War Memorial in Confederation Square, Ottawa. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was added to the war memorial in 2000, and holds the remains of an unidentified Canadian soldier who died in France during World War I...
, at the Canadian National War Memorial
National War Memorial (Canada)
The National War Memorial , is a tall granite cenotaph with acreted bronze sculptures, that stands in Confederation Square, Ottawa, and serves as the federal war memorial for Canada....
, their first public event as a couple since the wedding. After meeting with veterans, their first walkabout as a couple was considered unhurried, as they were 10 minutes late for their next appearance.
The Duke and Duchess then headed to Rideau Hall
Rideau Hall
Rideau Hall is, since 1867, the official residence in Ottawa of both the Canadian monarch and the Governor General of Canada. It stands in Canada's capital on a 0.36 km2 estate at 1 Sussex Drive, with the main building consisting of 170 rooms across 9,500 m2 , and 24 outbuildings around the...
, residence of the Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
, for their official Welcome to Canada and Ottawa Ceremony by Governor General David Johnston
David Johnston
David Lloyd Johnston is a Canadian academic, author and statesman who is the current Governor General of Canada, the 28th since Canadian Confederation....
; attendance turnout was around 6,000 people, double the turnout of people at the War Memorial. The Duke inspected the Guard of Honour, including the Army
Canadian Forces Land Force Command
The Canadian Army , previously called Land Force Command, is responsible for army operations within the Canadian Forces. The current size of the Army is 19,500 regular soldiers and 16,000 reserve soldiers, for a total of around 35,500 soldiers...
, the Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
and the Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
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 is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
. The Royal Salute, composed by King Edward VIII
Edward VIII of the United Kingdom
Edward VIII was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, and Emperor of India, from 20 January to 11 December 1936.Before his accession to the throne, Edward was Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay...
, played on bagpipes. The event was followed with a Celebration of Youth Barbecue Reception at Rideau Hall.
On Canada Day, July 1, on what would have been Diana, Princess of Wales
Princess of Wales
Princess of Wales is a British courtesy title held by the wife of The Prince of Wales since the first "English" Prince of Wales in 1283.Although there have been considerably more than ten male heirs to the throne, there have been only ten Princesses of Wales. The majority of Princes of Wales...
' 50th birthday, the couple attended a citizenship ceremony at the Canadian Museum of Civilization
Canadian Museum of Civilization
The Canadian Museum of Civilization is Canada's national museum of human history and the most popular and most-visited museum in Canada....
; this was the first time that members of the Royal Family participated in a Canadian citizenship ceremony. The Sons of Scotland played as they entered was "St. Andrews Courtship", a work by piper Bethany Bisaillion, created for them. The event attracted protesters who strumed guitars and wave placards outside event, in protest of mandatory pledging allegiance to the Queen. This was followed by the Canada Day Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill , colloquially known as The Hill, is an area of Crown land on the southern banks of the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa, Ontario. Its Gothic revival suite of buildingsthe parliament buildings serves as the home of the Parliament of Canada and contains a number of architectural...
Noon Show, a public event, arriving in the State Landau. Performers included the Sam Roberts Band
Sam Roberts
Sam Roberts is a Juno Award-winning Canadian rock singer-songwriter, whose 2001 debut release, The Inhuman Condition, became one of the bestselling independent releases in Quebec and Canadian music history.-Life and career:...
, Great Big Sea
Great Big Sea
Great Big Sea is a Canadian folk-rock band from Newfoundland and Labrador, best known for performing energetic rock interpretations of traditional Newfoundland folk songs including sea shanties, which draw from the island's 500-year-old Irish, English, and French heritage...
, Corb Lund
Corb Lund and the Hurtin' Albertans
Corb Lund and the Hurtin' Albertans are a Canadian country music band, formerly known as the Corb Lund Band.-Corb Lund:Corb Lund, the lead singer, grew up in Southern Alberta living on his family's farm and ranches near Taber, Cardston and Rosemary. He is proud of being an Albertan...
, and Maria Aragon
Maria Aragon
Maria Lourdes Aragon is a singer from Manitoba, Canada, of Filipino descent. Aragon gained fame after a YouTube video of her performing Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" went viral.-As a YouTube sensation:...
. The show was broadcast on CBC
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
Television and radio in English and French. The couple returned in the evening for additional performances, and fireworks; this was considered a significant security risk.
The royals began July 2 at the Canadian War Museum
Canadian War Museum
The Canadian War Museum is Canada’s national museum of military history. Located in Ottawa, Ontario, the museum covers all facets of Canada’s military past, from the first recorded instances of death by armed violence in Canadian history several thousand years ago to the country’s most recent...
, unveiling the mural "The Canadians Opposite Lens" by Augustus John
Augustus John
Augustus Edwin John OM, RA, was a Welsh painter, draughtsman, and etcher. For a short time around 1910, he was an important exponent of Post-Impressionism in the United Kingdom....
. From there, the couple proceeded to Montreal, Quebec
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
's Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport
Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport
Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport or Montréal-Trudeau, formerly known as Montréal-Dorval International Airport, is located on the Island of Montreal, from Montreal's downtown core. The airport terminals are located entirely in Dorval, while the Air Canada headquarters complex...
. Outside their first stop, Sainte-Justine University Hospital Centre, Reseau de Resistance du Quebecois (RRQ) protesters' bilingual placards called the royals "parasites". Onlookers and well-wishers outnumbered the protester "10 to 1", according to media reports. The RRQ had hired 40 security guards to keep their protesters in check. Entering the hospital swiftly, the Duke and Duchess were at the hospital to meet with patients and their families.
The couple departed from Montréal for Québec City at 9:55 pm, on HMCS Montréal
HMCS Montréal (FFH 336)
HMCS Montréal is a that has served in the Canadian Forces since 1993.Montréal is the seventh ship in her class which is based on the Canadian Patrol Frigate Project. She is the second vessel to carry the designation ....
.
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
. Crowds gathered on the boardwalk to Chateau Frontenac
Château Frontenac
The Château Frontenac, currently known as Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, is a grand hotel in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1980...
, and along to the Plains of Abraham
Plains of Abraham
The Plains of Abraham is a historic area within The Battlefields Park in Quebec City, Quebec, that was originally grazing land, but became famous as the site of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, which took place on 13 September 1759. Though written into the history books, housing and minor...
. The couple will tour la Maison Dauphine, an organization which serves street youth, where they will have a private talk with a small group, to here the youth's stories.
The first public event of the day was just after noon, a Freedom of the City Ceremony at Québec City Hall
Québec City Hall
The City Hall of Quebec City is located in the heart of Old Quebec. It was inaugurated on September 15, 1896. The building slopes downward as it was built on a hill and was once home to the Jesuit College from the 1730s to 1878....
(Hôtel de ville de Québec). William's speech, delivered entirely in French, included "You, the Quebecois and Quebecoise, have such vitality and vigour. It is simply a pleasure to be here." Sovereigntist group Reseau de Resistance du Quebecois expected 300 protesters for their demonstration outside City Hall; media reported about 200 showed up. Protesters noted that they did have a plane flyover city hall with a separatist banner.
The next public event is a community celebration in Lévis, Quebec
Lévis, Quebec
Lévis is a city in eastern Quebec, Canada. It is located on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, opposite Quebec City. A ferry links Old Quebec with Old Lévis, and two bridges, the Quebec Bridge and the Pierre Laporte Bridge, connect western Lévis with Quebec City. The Société de transport de...
, touring Fort Numéro Un de Lévis
Lévis Forts
The Lévis Forts were a series of three forts located on the South Shore of the Saint Lawrence River in Lévis, Quebec, Canada. They were at shooting distance of one another which allowed the defense of a wide area without the cost of a continuous defensive wall. The first one was built by the...
. From there, they went to Charlottetown
Charlottetown
Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...
, Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
for the evening.
The royal couple arrived in Montreal in the evening and attended a cooking class with students at the Institut de Tourisme et d'Hotellerie du Québec. Jean Charest, the premier of Quebec, and his wife accompanied the couple in the class. The two couples had supper together after the short workshop. Upon their arrival at the Institut, the couple was greeted by approximately 500 fans and protesters.
Province House (Prince Edward Island)
Province House is where the Prince Edward Island Legislature, known as the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, has met since 1847. The building is located at the intersection of Richmond and Great George Streets in Charlottetown; it is Canada's second-oldest seat of government.- History...
, PEI's provincial legislature at Charlottetown, the couple learned of Canadian military accomplishments in Prince Edward Island National Park
Prince Edward Island National Park
Prince Edward Island National Park is a National Park located on Prince Edward Island. Situated along the island's north shore, fronting the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the park measures approximately 60 km in length and ranges from several hundred metres to several kilometres in width...
, before William took part in "a training session for the 'waterbird' emergency landing procedure in a Sea King helicopter at Dalvay-by-the-Sea
Dalvay-by-the-sea
Dalvay-by-the-Sea is a National Historic Site of Canada located on the north shore of Prince Edward Island at the eastern end of Prince Edward Island National Park...
." The day was rainy. At the hotel, a National Historic Site of Canada, the couple was welcomed to PEI by a traditional Miqmah smudging ceremony, and sampled several kinds of local foods. Aboriginal, Acadian and Celtic cultural and culinary traditions. The couple challenged each other to a dragon boat
Dragon boat
A dragon boat is a human-powered watercraft traditionally made, in the Pearl River delta region of southern China - Guangdong Province, of teak wood to various designs and sizes. In other parts of China different woods are used to build these traditional watercraft...
race. William's team won by half a length. Then on Dalvay Beach the couple chatted with beach volleyball players, sand castle builders and baked-lobster chefs. The final public event of the day was in Summerside
Summerside, Prince Edward Island
Summerside is a Canadian city in Prince County, Prince Edward Island. It is the second largest city in the province and the principal municipality for the western part of the island.- History :...
, where the couple watched a Search and Rescue exercise at Summerside Harbour with the Canadian Coast Guard
Canadian Coast Guard
The Canadian Coast Guard is the coast guard of Canada. It is a federal agency responsible for providing maritime search and rescue , aids to navigation, marine pollution response, marine radio, and icebreaking...
. The couple then flew to Yellowknife Airport
Yellowknife Airport
Yellowknife Airport is located in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. The airport is part of the National Airports System, and is operated by the government of the Northwest Territories. The airport has regular scheduled passenger service, and is also used as a forward operating base for...
, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories arriving in the early evening.
Local actors playing characters Anne Shirley
Anne Shirley
Anne Shirley is a fictional character introduced in the 1908 novel Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Montgomery wrote in her journal that the idea for Anne's story came from relatives who, planning to adopt an orphaned boy, received a girl instead...
and Matthew Cuthbert (Tess Benger and Kris Tusler) in Anne of Green Gables – The Musical appeared as guests. The province was Catherine's choice for the tour.
At 11:40 am, Tuesday, July 5, the couple participated in a public event, an Official Arrival to the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
. William and Catherine arrived at Somba K’e Civic Plaza to take part in Aboriginal traditions and activities, including traditional drumming, dancing and sports. The ceremony was to highlight the historic and continuing cooperation between the Northwest Territories’ Aboriginal peoples and residents of other cultures. The Duke's speech included the phrase "thank you" in both the Na-Dene
Na-Dené languages
Na-Dene is a Native American language family which includes at least the Athabaskan languages, Eyak, and Tlingit languages. An inclusion of Haida is controversial....
and Inuvialuktun languages. In a street hockey game, Prince William took three shots on goal, but the young goaltender kept him from scoring.
A session of the Youth Parliament at the Legislative Assembly was followed by a visit to Blachford Lake
Blachford Lake
Blachford Lake, is a remote lake in Northern Canada, near Yellowknife. The lake is and sits on precambrian rock. The lake is located at 62 09.97'N, 112 40.96' W and is to the north of the start eastern arm of the Great Slave Lake.-Royal Visit:...
, which included the First Canadian Ranger Patrol Group
Canadian Rangers
The Canadian Rangers are a sub-component of the Canadian Forces reserve that provide a military presence in Canada's sparsely settled northern, coastal, and isolated areas. Formally established on May 23, 1947, a primary role of this part-time force is to conduct surveillance or sovereignty...
and Dechinta: Bush University Centre for Research and Learning
Dechinta: Bush University Centre for Research and Learning
Dechinta: Bush University Centre for Research and Learning is an educational establishment, located in northern Canada at Blachford Lake, Yellowknife that specialises in teaching the traditional skills found in northern Canada, whilst being university accredited.According to its website, the...
.
The original public schedule for Wednesday, July 6 was listed as a day off for the royal couple. The unannounced stop was made in Slave Lake
Slave Lake, Alberta
Slave Lake is a town in northern Alberta, Canada, in the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River No. 124. It is located on the southeast shore of Lesser Slave Lake at the junction of Highway 2 and Highway 88....
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
where the royal couple toured the town that was partially destroyed by a wildfire
2011 Slave Lake wildfire
The 2011 Slave Lake wildfire was a large fire that burned through the Town of Slave Lake, Alberta, Canada and its surrounding area from Saturday, May 14, 2011 through Monday, May 16, 2011. The conflagration, which originated outside of town as a forest fire, was quickly pushed past fire barriers...
in May. Arriving at the town's airport, the couple met with Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach
Ed Stelmach
Edward Michael "Ed" Stelmach, MLA is a Canadian politician and served as the 13th Premier of Alberta, Canada, from 2006 to 2011. The grandson of Ukrainian immigrants, Stelmach was born and raised on a farm near Lamont and speaks fluent Ukrainian. He spent his entire pre-political adult life as a...
and the Mayor of Slave Lake, Karina Pillay-Kinnee. They met with emergency services personnel from the fire department, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
and the medical response team at Northern Lakes College. At the gym of Northern Lakes College
Northern Lakes College
Northern Lakes College is a publicly-funded comprehensive community college in north-central Alberta, Canada.Administrative offices are located in Slave Lake and Grouard, Alberta, with a staff of more than 275 working in more than 30 campuses...
, the couple met with some of the families affected by the fire. The town was in the midst of dealing with flooding of Sawridge Creek. At 1:30 pm, they went back to the Slave Lake Airport and continued on their way to Calgary. They spent the night at the private Skoki Ski Lodge
Skoki Ski Lodge
The Skoki Ski Lodge National Historic Site of Canada was built in 1930-31 in the Skoki Valley of Canada's Banff National Park. Built by local members of the Ski Club of the Canadian Rockies, the lodge was the first commercial building built specifically to serve skiers in Canada, and possibly in...
, a National Historic Site near Lake Louise
Lake Louise
-Canada:*Lake Louise , a lake in Alberta, Canada*Lake Louise, Alberta, a hamlet which takes its name from the lake**Chateau Lake Louise, hotel in Alberta, Canada, one of Canada's Grand Railway Resorts...
, within the Rocky Mountain-area Banff National Park
Banff National Park
Banff National Park is Canada's oldest national park, established in 1885 in the Rocky Mountains. The park, located 110–180 kilometres west of Calgary in the province of Alberta, encompasses of mountainous terrain, with numerous glaciers and ice fields, dense coniferous forest, and alpine...
. Much of the press coverage for this part of the tour discussed the remoteness of the site, which includes only outhouses. No official comment was made on whether it was retrofitted, at least temporarily.
Arriving in Calgary in the afternoon, at Calgary International Airport
Calgary International Airport
Calgary International Airport, , is the international airport that serves Calgary, Alberta, Canada and the surrounding region; it is situated approximately northeast of downtown Calgary...
, the Duke and Duchess were presented with the usual headgear in the White Hat Ceremony, but didn't wear them. They toured the University of Calgary
University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1966 the U of C is composed of 14 faculties and more than 85 research institutes and centres.More than 25,000 undergraduate and 5,500 graduate students are currently...
Ward of the 21st Century Research and Innovation Centre (W21C), and attended an evening Government of Canada reception at the BMO
Bank of Montreal
The Bank of Montreal , , or BMO Financial Group, is the fourth largest bank in Canada by deposits. The Bank of Montreal was founded on June 23, 1817 by John Richardson and eight merchants in a rented house in Montreal, Quebec. On May 19, 1817 the Articles of Association were adopted, making it...
Stampede Park. The latter included the creation of the The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's Parks Canada
Parks Canada
Parks Canada , also known as the Parks Canada Agency , is an agency of the Government of Canada mandated to protect and present nationally significant natural and cultural heritage, and foster public understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment in ways that ensure their ecological and commemorative...
Youth Ambassadors Program. The city gave free wristbands to public events, to lessen the volume of people.
Bow Valley College
Bow Valley College is a public college, with its main campus located in Downtown Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The enabling legislation is the Post-secondary Learning Act The branch campuses are: Airdrie, Banff, Blairmore, Brooks, Canmore, Cardston, Claresholm, Cochrane, Drumheller, Eden Valley, High...
. The parade is run by the same organization as the top-level rodeo event itself. The parade attracted a record crowd of 425,000 people.
The Vancouver Humane Society, the League Against Cruel Sports, and Fight Against Animal Cruelty had all asked that the royal couple not visit the Stampede, deeming it animal cruelty; People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is an American animal rights organization based in Norfolk, Virginia, and led by Ingrid Newkirk, its international president. A non-profit corporation with 300 employees and two million members and supporters, it claims to be the largest animal rights...
(PETA) suggested that they were approaching a "hotbed of controversy". If they don't cancel the event, PETA called on locals to protest at the event. The stampede has often attracted animal rights activists, on years without special guests. A horse died of a leg injury in the Stampede's first night, in spite of an "extensive overhaul to its animal care standards".
Barred from attending the 2010 Stampede parade, attempts to block street preacher Art Pawlowski were unsuccessful. He planned to have his group march following the parade proper, or set up a protest. There were no reports on whether he followed through.
Later events included a reception at the ENMAX Conservatory, Calgary Zoo
Calgary Zoo
The Calgary Zoo is located in Bridgeland, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, just east of the city's downtown and adjacent to the Inglewood and East Village neighbourhoods. It is accessible via Calgary's C-Train light rail system, by car via Memorial Drive and by bicycle and footpath via the Bow River...
, hosted by the Alberta Government, and a public Official Departure Ceremony. Finally, after a nine-day Canadian tour that "far exceeded" expectations, according to Prince William, and was by all accounts a huge success, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge boarded a plane for their last stop in North America, a visit to Los Angeles.
After departing the Realm
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge departed Canada on July 8, aboard a Canadian ForcesCanadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
jet bound for Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Upon arrival in the Californian city they were greeted by the Canadian Consul-General, California Governor Jerry Brown
Jerry Brown
Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. is an American politician. Brown served as the 34th Governor of California , and is currently serving as the 39th California Governor...
and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Antonio Villaraigosa
Antonio Ramón Villaraigosa , born Antonio Ramón Villar, Jr., is the 41st and current Mayor of Los Angeles, California, the third Mexican American to have ever held office in the city of Los Angeles and the first in over 130 years. He is also the current president of the United States Conference of...
. Being greeted by the Canadian Consul-General first, Prince William had departed Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
as a Prince of Canada rather than a foreign prince. On July 9, the couple attended the inaugural BAFTA
British Academy of Film and Television Arts
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is a charity in the United Kingdom that hosts annual awards shows for excellence in film, television, television craft, video games and forms of animation.-Introduction:...
Brits to Watch event at the downtown Belasco Theater.
Catherine's fashion
Catherine has made a point of wearing Canadian fashion designers at various points throughout the trip. Departing from Britain, she wore a navy blue blazer by Toronto-based Smythe les Vestes, On arrival, her outfit was by Montreal designer Erdem MoraliogluErdem Moralioğlu
Erdem Moralioğlu, more commonly known as Erdem is a Canadian-British-Turkish fashion designer.-Biography:...
. Even when wearing foreign designers, as on Canada Day, the white-dress outfit had domestic influences such a red hat with fabric maple leaves, and Queen Elizabeth II's maple leaf brooch first worn during her 1951 tour of Canada.
CBS News
CBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
royal contributor Victoria Arbiter suggested Catherine might wear 40 outfits on the trip.
Reception
A poll conducted before the tour showed 54% of those between 18 and 34 who were polled were indifferent to the tour.Public events during the tour drew big crowds. On Canada Day at Parliament Hill, attendance was 300,000 in the morning, and a half-million in the evening. The National Capital Commission had speculated half a million would show up at the morning event.
The Canadian tour become a subject of controversy, as the Royal couple planned to attend the annual Calgary Stampede
Calgary Stampede
The Calgary Stampede is an annual rodeo, exhibition and festival held every July in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The ten-day event, which bills itself as "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth", attracts over one million visitors per year and features one of the world's largest rodeos, a parade, midway,...
, an event that features steer busting and calf roping
Calf roping
Calf roping, also known as tie-down roping, is a rodeo event that features a calf and a rider mounted on a horse. The goal of this timed event is for the rider to catch the calf by throwing a loop of rope from a lariat around its neck, dismount from the horse, run to the calf, and restrain it by...
and is condemned by animal welfare experts. The rodeo was banned in England in 1934. Animal Rights groups from Britain and Canada have written to Clarence House
Clarence House
Clarence House is a royal home in London, situated on The Mall, in the City of Westminster. It is attached to St. James's Palace and shares the palace's garden. For nearly 50 years, from 1953 to 2002, it was home to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, but is since then the official residence of The...
urging the couple not to attend the event.
The tour attracted small crowds and protests in the province of Quebec. Quebec MNA Amir Khadir
Amir Khadir
Amir Khadir is a politician in the National Assembly of Quebec , Canada for the electoral district of Mercier, and currently the male spokesperson for Québec Solidaire, a sovereignist and left-wing political party which was created by the merger of the Union des Forces Progressistes and Option...
referred to the royal couple as "parasites" ahead of the visit, calling the tour "a waste of public funds". In Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
they were met by approximately 500 supporters and 100 protesters and in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
they were met by several hundred supporters and about 200 protesters, some wearing black and waving flags.
Though official popularity numbers have yet to be released, many accounts have touted the royal tour as a positive turn around in Canadian support of the crown. Since the royal wedding and the conclusion of the royal tour, there has been a distinctly youth motivated recognition of William and Cathrine as not foreign royalty but as Canadian royalty and William as the future King of Canada.
See also
- Royal tours of CanadaRoyal tours of CanadaCanadian royal tours have been taking place since 1786, and continue into the 21st century, either as an official tour, a working tour, a vacation, or a period of military service by a member of the Canadian Royal Family...
- List of royal tours of Canada (18th-20th centuries)
- List of royal tours of Canada (21st century)
- Debate on the monarchy in CanadaDebate on the monarchy in CanadaDebate between monarchists and republicans in Canada has been taking place since before the country's Confederation in 1867, though it has rarely been of significance since the rebellions of 1837. Open support for republicanism only came from the Patriotes in the early 19th century, the Red River...
- Monarchy in QuebecMonarchy in QuebecBy the arrangements of the Canadian federation, Canada's monarchy operates in Quebec as the core of the province's Westminster-style parliamentary democracy and constitution. As such, the Crown within Quebec's jurisdiction is referred to as the Crown in Right of Quebec , Her Majesty in Right of...