April 29, 2005 OTTAWA – At the request of the Right Honourable Paul Martin, Prime Minister of Canada, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, and His Excellency John Ralston Saul, will represent Canada during official ceremonies commemorating the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands, from May 2 to 8, 2005. Their Excellencies will then travel to Moscow, Russia, on May 8. The itinerary for the visit to Russia will be issued shortly. The detailed itinerary for the Netherlands visit is attached (Annex). -30- Media information Randy Mylyk Press Secretary to the Governor General (613) 993-8167 Lucie Brosseau Rideau Hall Press Office (613) 993-8158 www.gg.ca Janice Summerby Media Relations Advisor Veterans Affairs Canada (613) 992-7468 www.vac-acc.gc.ca For information on other events in the Netherlands please visit www.60liberation.nl. Annex Note: Canadian media who have not already applied for accreditation please contact Janice.summerby@vac-acc.gc.ca at Veterans Affairs Canada. Itinerary: Official Ceremonies commemorating the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands, from May 2 to 8, 2005. Monday, May 2 (The Hague) 10:30 a.m. Welcoming ceremony (with military honours) by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands (Palace Grounds, Noordeinde Palace) (PHOTO-OP) 11:30 a.m. Private meeting with His Excellency Jan Peter Balkenende, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Office of the Prime Minister, 2nd floor Binnenhof) (PHOTO OPPORTUNITY UPON ARRIVAL) Noon Joint media availability with Prime Minister Balkenende (Office of the Prime Minister, Foyer, Main Floor, Binnenhof) 12:15 p.m. Luncheon given by Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende (CLOSED TO MEDIA) 1:40 p.m. Wreath-laying ceremony at the Book of Remembrance in honour of Dutch citizens who lost their lives during the Second World War. The Governor General will witness the daily turning of the page from the Book of Remembrance by the Usher of the State General and lay a wreath. (Second Chamber Lobby, House of Commons, Binnenhof 1B) (PHOTO-OP) 2:00 p.m. Meeting with presidents (speakers) of the First and Second Chambers and presidents of the Foreign Affairs committees (CLOSED TO MEDIA) 5:00 p.m. Private audience with Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands (CLOSED TO MEDIA) 7:30 p.m. Dinner given by Mr. Serge April, Ambassador of Canada to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Mrs. Suzanne April (CLOSED TO MEDIA) Tuesday, May 3, 2005 (Oosterbeek, Nijmegen and Groesbeek) Oosterbeek 10:00 a.m. Tour of Operation Market Garden Battlefield with veterans (tour begins at the old reformed church) The tour will explain the role of the Canadian Engineers in rescuing British paratroopers who were participating in the Allied military operation "Market Garden" in 1944. Operation Market Garden was an attempt to take bridges over the main rivers of the German-occupied Netherlands, enabling the Allies to advance into Germany without any remaining major obstacles. (OPEN TO MEDIA) 11:00 a.m. Wreath-laying Ceremony (Engineers Monument, Drielse Rijndijk) (OPEN TO MEDIA) Nijmegen Noon Lunch and discussion with faculty and board members of the Radboud University of Nijmegen, regarding the newly created Minor in Canadian Studies program The Governor General is Patron of the International Council for Canadian Studies, an organization that promotes the study of Canada by means of offering generous scholarships, conferences and publishing support programs worldwide. (Van Agtkamer, 2nd floor, Radbout University Nijmegen) (PHOTO-OP UPON ARRIVAL) Groesbeek 2:00 p.m. Ceremony of Remembrance at the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands The ceremony represents the most significant commemorative event at the largest Canadian war cemetery in the Netherlands. Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet, Mr. Pieter van Vollenhoven, (husband of Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet) will also attend. The Governor General will deliver remarks. (OPEN TO MEDIA) 7:15 p.m. Official photo with Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands (OPEN TO MEDIA– Media wishing to apply for accreditation should do so by contacting Ms. Antoinet de Haan, Government Information Service (RDV Rijksvoorlichtingsdienst) at +31-6-18307745 or projectbureaup&p@minaz.nl. 7:20 p.m. Audience with Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands (CLOSED TO MEDIA) 8:30 p.m. State dinner hosted by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands (Grote Balzaal, 2nd floor, Noordeinde Palace) (CLOSED TO MEDIA) Wednesday, May 4, 2005 (Holten) 11:00 a.m. Ceremony of Remembrance at the Holten Canadian War Cemetery in the presence of Mr. Pieter van Vollenhoven (husband of Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet). This is the final resting place of many Canadians who lost their lives in the closing stages of the campaign in northwest Europe. The Governor General will deliver remarks. (OPEN TO MEDIA) 3:45 p.m. Meeting with Canadian youth representatives travelling with the official Canadian veterans' delegation. (CLOSED TO MEDIA) 7:00 p.m. Meeting with Canadian veterans and active Canadian Forces personnel taking part in the week's commemorative ceremonies (CLOSED TO MEDIA) Thursday, May 5, 2005 (Wageningen and Amsterdam) Wageningen 4:00 p.m. Ceremony of the lighting of the Permanent Liberation Flame at the National Monument (Hotel de Wereld) followed by the Liberation Parade His Royal Highness Prince Willem Alexander and Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende will also attend. (OPEN TO MEDIA) Amsterdam 8:30 p.m. Working dinner with Dutch and Canadian cultural representatives (CLOSED TO MEDIA) Friday, May 6, 2005 (Apeldoorn and Amsterdam) Apeldoorn 11:00 a.m. Unveiling ceremony of National Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada Plaque (Kononklijk Park, Het Loo Royal Palace) With the participation of His Highness Prince Floris of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven. Governor General Adrienne Clarkson will deliver remarks. (OPEN TO MEDIA) Noon Reception with veterans (Kononklijk Park, Royal Palace Het Loo) (OPEN TO MEDIA) Amsterdam 4:30 p.m. Opening of the Canadian Contemporary Music Centre (Atrium, 2nd floor, Muziekgebouw aan't lJ) The Governor General will open this new cultural centre, and attend a concert by Trio fibonacci and offer brief remarks. (OPEN TO MEDIA) 8:00 p.m. Performance of Liberators, Occupiers and Population (Franscati Theatre, Theatre Franscati 1) The Governor General will attend this Canadian-Dutch-German theatrical production about the liberation. (OPEN TO MEDIA) Saturday, May 7, 2005 (Groningen) 11:30 a.m. Welcoming ceremony at City Hall and explanation of the Battle of Groningen The Mayor of Groningen, His Worship Jacques Wallage, will lead the tour. (OPEN TO MEDIA) 1:50 p.m. Visit of the exhibition, Children's War Memories (Aa-Kerk) (OPEN TO MEDIA) 2:15 p.m. Tour of a multimedia exhibition, highlighting the occupation and liberation of Groningen (University of Groningen Museum) (OPEN TO MEDIA) 2:40 p.m. Announcement of the future of the Canadian Studies Centre, unique in the Netherlands (Great Hall, 2nd floor, Academy Building, University of Groningen) The Governor General will deliver remarks. The Governor General is Patron of the International Council for Canadian Studies. Groningen University offers a full-fledged inter-disciplinary Canadian Studies Program at the Bachelor's level. (OPEN TO MEDIA) Sunday, May 8, 2005 2:00 p.m. Veterans parade in Apeldoorn The parade will include veterans from all Allied countries. (OPEN TO MEDIA)
