Their Excellencies to Officially Welcome The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall in Iqaluit

OTTAWA, June 28, 2017 /CNW/ - Their Excellencies the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and Mrs. Sharon Johnston will officially welcome to Canada Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, during an official ceremony in Iqaluit, Nunavut, on Thursday, June 29, 2017. 

In addition to this event, which launches the 2017 Royal Tour, the Royal couple will participate in activities that highlight the themes of diversity and inclusion, reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, youth and the environment as part of Canada's sesquicentennial celebrations.

On July 1^st, Their Excellencies and Their Royal Highnesses will attend the Canada Day Noon Show on Parliament Hill and the official reopening of the National Arts Centre. Their Excellencies will also host a tree-planting ceremony and the inauguration of The Queen's Entrance at Rideau Hall, which will be followed by a reception featuring a cross-section of Canadians from all walks of life.

Below are the events for which Their Excellencies will join Their Royal Highnesses in Nunavut and in Canada's Capital Region.

Thursday, June 29
Iqaluit, Nunavut

11:35 a.m.
Official Welcoming Ceremony to Canada
Upon their arrival in Iqaluit, Their Royal Highnesses will be officially welcomed by Their Excellencies, accompanied by the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, the Honourable Nellie T. Kusugak, Commissioner of Nunavut, the Honourable Peter Taptuna, Premier of Nunavut, and Mrs. Joanne Taptuna. His Royal Highness will then receive military honours, which will include the inspection of the Quarter Guard of the Canadian Rangers. The Governor General, the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs and The Prince of Wales will deliver remarks on this occasion.
Nunavut Legislative Assembly, Iqaluit
OPEN TO ROYAL TOUR ACCREDITED MEDIA

1:55 p.m.
Community Feast
Their Excellencies and Their Royal Highnesses will take part in a community feast during which they will view exhibitions showcasing Nunavut's unique environment. They will also attend traditional performances, and join local Elders for tea and bannock.
Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park, Iqaluit
OPEN TO ROYAL TOUR ACCREDITED MEDIA

Saturday, July 1
Ottawa, Ontario

11:40 a.m.
Inspection of the Guard
Before making their way to Parliament Hill, Their Excellencies and Their Royal Highnesses will visit Reconciliation: The Peacekeeping Monument, where His Excellency and His Royal Highness will inspect a guard of honour from the Ceremonial Guard.
Reconciliation: The Peacekeeping Monument, Ottawa
OPEN TO ROYAL TOUR ACCREDITED POOL MEDIA ONLY

12 p.m.
Canada Day Noon Show
Along with thousands of Canadians and visitors, Their Excellencies and Their Royal Highnesses will join the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, Mrs. Sophie Grégoire Trudeau and the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, for the Canada Day Noon Show on Parliament Hill. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, the Prime Minister, The Prince of Wales and the Governor General will address Canadians on the day of our nation's sesquicentennial.
Parliament Hill, Ottawa
OPEN TO ROYAL TOUR ACCREDITED MEDIA

Reopening of the Newly Renovated National Arts Centre
Their Excellencies and His Royal Highness will attend the official ceremony for the reopening of the National Arts Centre. The Governor General, the Prince of Wales and other distinguished guests will have the honour of cutting the ribbon, and will meet with artists, Indigenous leaders and the architects behind the rehabilitation work.
National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa
OPEN TO ROYAL TOUR ACCREDITED POOL MEDIA ONLY

6:40 p.m.
Ceremonial Tree Planting
Their Royal Highnesses will plant a sugar maple tree. The tree will be located in the Royal grove area of Rideau Hall, near the residence. It will be located next to the tree planted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2010.

The tradition of ceremonially planting a tree during Royal or State visits began with the Right Honourable Earl Grey, Governor General of Canada from 1904 to 1911. Since that time, planting ceremonial trees has become a Canadian tradition, symbolizing the living friendship and co-operation of nations. Her Majesty The Queen and members of the Royal Family have planted 17 ceremonial trees on the grounds of Rideau Hall since 1939.
Rideau Hall, Ottawa
OPEN TO ROYAL TOUR ACCREDITED MEDIA

6:45 p.m.
Inauguration of The Queen's Entrance
As part of Canada's 150^th celebrations, Their Excellencies and Their Royal Highnesses will inaugurate The Queen's Entrance at Rideau Hall with the unveiling of a plaque and by symbolically opening the new doors. This outdoor event will take place on the newly renovated forecourt of the residence. It will also include remarks by the Governor General, a musical performance by the Royal Regiment of Canada, and will be followed by a reception to celebrate the new entrance.

The entrance leading to the residence has been transformed with the addition of a new forecourt and new front entrance doors. The new front doors were designed to symbolize the history and landscape of Canada's last 150 years, and are architecturally linked to The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Balustrade that was created inside the front entrance of Rideau Hall in 2012.  The doors were crafted by leading Canadian glass, wood and bronze artisans, who will be on-hand at the event to provide information about their work. The entrance has received Royal designation to be styled The Queen's Entrance, in celebration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's Sapphire Jubilee and her dedicated service to Canada.
Rideau Hall, Ottawa
OPEN TO ROYAL TOUR ACCREDITED MEDIA

Reception on the Occasion of the Inauguration of The Queen's Entrance
During the reception hosted by Their Excellencies, Their Royal Highnesses will meet with  Canadians who reflect the development of Canada over the past 150 years. Guests will include representatives of organizations for which Their Royal Highnesses are patron, regiments for which they serve as colonels-in-chief, Indigenous peoples, youth, philanthropists, cultural figures, dignitaries, and other Canadians from a wide range of fields, as well as members of the Order of Canada, which is celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year.
Rideau Hall, Ottawa
OPEN TO ROYAL TOUR ACCREDITED POOL MEDIA ONLY

About the Royal Tour
The 2017 Royal Tour will take place from June 29 to July 1, 2017. Their Royal Highnesses will visit Iqaluit, Nunavut, on June 29; Canadian Forces Base Trenton and Wellington, Prince Edward County, Ontario, on June 30; and Canada's Capital Region on July 1. This will be the 18^th visit to Canada for The Prince of Wales and the 4^th visit for The Duchess of Cornwall. The couple's most recent Royal Tour was conducted in May 2014, during which they visited Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Manitoba. For more information on the Royal Tour's detailed itinerary, visit http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1490105439791/1490105522769.

Media covering the ceremonies and events listed above must have a
2017 Royal Tour accreditation from the Department of Canadian Heritage.

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SOURCE Governor General of Canada

Media information: Marie-Ève Létourneau, Rideau Hall Press Office, 613-998-0287, 613-302-0912 (cell), [email protected]; Media Relations, Department of Canadian Heritage, 819-994-9101, 1-866-569-6155, [email protected]