April 18, 2005 OTTAWA – Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada, and His Excellency John Ralston Saul will spend two days visiting St. James Town in Toronto on April 20 and 21, 2005. St. James Town is one of Canada's most culturally diverse communities. The activities during the visit will focus on citizenship, and reflect issues that are relevant and meaningful to the community such as civic engagement, public education, social responsibility and the integration of immigrants. On April 20, 2005, at 2:30 p.m., everyone in the community is invited to join Governor General Clarkson and John Ralston Saul for a citizenship ceremony. The Governor General will swear in 44 new Canadians from 22 countries and offer remarks at the Wellesley Community Centre. A reception will follow. The detailed itinerary for the visit to St. James Town follows. All events are open to media. Media representatives wishing to cover these events should contact the Rideau Hall Press Office at the number below, and arrive a half hour prior to the start of the event. Day 1- April 20, 2005 10:00 a.m. Visit to community-based organization, Growing Together, and discussion with community groups (260 Wellesley Street East) A joint program of the Hincks-Dellcrest Centre and Toronto Public Health, this organization provides numerous services for expectant mothers, parents and families with children aged five and under. Some of the services provided include supportive home visits to mothers of newborns; prenatal groups; parents' classes; psychoeducational and therapy groups on several topics; parent/child activity groups; English club for new Canadians; community action group; speech and language therapy; and parenting and health. Following the visit, the Governor General will have a discussion with 10 representatives from community groups about the challenges they face in their community and the actions they take to ensure that St. James Town is a good place to live for its residents. 1:15 p.m. Informal discussion (Wellesley Community Centre, 495 Sherbourne Street) The Governor General and John Ralston Saul will lead a discussion on civic engagement. Participants will include future Canadian citizens, and Order of Canada recipients. 2:30 p.m. Citizenship Ceremony (Wellesley Community Centre, 495 Sherbourne Street) Her Excellency will then swear in 44 new Canadian citizens from 22 countries at St. James' newly opened community centre. Everyone in the community is invited to this public event. A reception will follow. 5:45 p.m. Dinner with local youth (Wellesley Community Centre, 495 Sherbourne Street) The Governor General will engage youth from St. James Town in a discussion about community involvement and what they think of their community and of their city, as well as their hopes and aspirations and how they are involved in their community. 8:00 p.m. Play, The Seven Days of Simon Labrosse (Artword Theatre, 75 Portland Street) After dinner, youth from St. James Town will accompany the Governor General to The Seven Days of Simon Labrosse, a play by Carole Fréchette, one of Quebec's most internationally performed playwrights. The play was translated into English by John Murrell. A production of Pleiades Theatre, the play is a fitting tribute to the late Bill Glassco, who had wanted to produce and direct the project. The Seven Days of Simon Labrosse premiered in Toronto on Tuesday, April 12, 2005. Day 2- April 21, 2005 10:00 a.m. Visit to Rose Avenue Public School (675 Ontario Street) The Governor General and John Ralston Saul will address the assembly about the importance of literacy and education. A question and answer session will follow. The Governor General and John Ralston Saul will also spend time with students to discuss the importance of being involved in the community. The Governor General will also speak to students about the importance of reading. Rose Avenue is a downtown inner-city school located in the heart of St. James Town. There are approximately 960 students at the school. More than 85 per cent of the students have English as a second language and half of the students came to Canada in recent years. -30- For more information on Citizenship and Immigration programs, please contact Réjean Cantlon, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, at (416) 954-7868. Media information Lucie Brosseau Rideau Hall Press Office In Ottawa (613) 993-8158 In Toronto (613) 222-2699
