April 13, 2006
OTTAWA -- Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, and Mr. Jean-Daniel Lafond will travel to Iqaluit and Cape Dorset on their first official visit to Nunavut from April 17 to 21, 2006. During this visit to Nunavut, the Governor General will take part in a series of activities that will focus on women's issues, culture, and youth.
"I look forward to my first visit to Nunavut as a unique opportunity to discover the Far North, its people, its genuinely untamed and untouched landscapes, and its time-honoured traditions," said the Governor General. "I am eager to listen to elected officials, community leaders, agents of social change, artists, elders, mothers and fathers, and youth and to hear about their concerns and aspirations."
The Governor General has made it a priority to visit every Canadian province and territory during the first year of her mandate. As part of her cross-country tour, Her Excellency has already visited Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia.
Media representatives interested in receiving additional information on the visit are asked to communicate with Lucie Brosseau prior to April 17, 2006.
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Media information (until April 17, 2006)Lucie BrosseauRideau Hall Press Office (613) 998-0287
Media Information
Lucie Brosseau(in Iqaluit from April 17 to 21)Frobisher Inn, Iqaluit(867) 979-2222
Marilyne GuèvremontRideau Hall Press Office(in Ottawa) (613) 998-7280
Detailed Itinerary Visit to Nunavut, April 17 to 21, 2006
Monday, April 17 (Iqaluit)
Iqaluit, formerly known as Frobisher Bay, from 1955 to 1987, is the capital and administrative centre of Nunavut, with a population of approximately 6000. A gateway to the world of the Arctic North, this community is known for its Inuit-inspired architecture. Iqaluit, is Inuktitut for "place of many fish."
4:00 p.m. Arrival in Iqaluit(Their Excellencies will be greeted by the Honourable Ann Meekitjuk Hanson, Commissioner of Nunavut and her husband, Mr. Robert Hanson. The Governor General will inspect a Canadian Rangers guard of honour.)Iqaluit airportOPEN TO MEDIA
4:45 p.m.Meeting with the Honourable Ann Meekitjuk Hanson, Commissioner of Nunavut(Their Excellencies will have a private meeting with Commissioner Meekitjuk Hanson.)CLOSED TO MEDIA
7:00 p.m.Opening Ceremonies of the Toonik Tyme Festival (Each spring, the people of Iqaluit come together during the Toonik Tyme Festival, a festival celebrating the return of the sun, and longer days. Her Excellency has been invited to be this year's Honorary Toonik and to deliver remarks. In her speech, the Governor General will pay tribute to the endurance, resilience, patience, courage, resourcefulness, ingenuity, wisdom and spirituality of the Nunavummiut. Among other subjects, she will touch on some of the challenges faced by the Inuit. The Honourable Ann Meekitjuk Hanson, Commissioner of Nunavut, and Her Worship Elisapee Sheutiapik, Mayor of Iqaluit, will also offer remarks. The Governor General will officially offer to the Iqaluit Centennial Library a gift of 80 books by Canadian authors, celebrating Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II 80th birthday. Many books were selected from Governor General's Literary Award winning authors and will comprise a variety of children's books and adult fiction. The books will include a mix of French-, Inuktitut- and English-language titles.)Gymnasium, Nakasuk Elementary SchoolOPEN TO MEDIA
Tuesday, April 18 (Iqaluit)9:00 a.m. Breakfast meeting with Colonel Normand Couturier, Commander of Joint Task Force NorthCLOSED TO MEDIA
10:00 a.m.Meeting with Her Worship Elisapee Sheutiapik, Mayor of Iqaluit(Their Excellencies will meet with Her Worship and city councilors, and discuss current issues affecting Iqaluit.)Mayor's office and council room, Iqaluit City HallPHOTO-OP UPON ARRIVAL INSIDE
10:45Tour of Iqaluit by carCLOSED TO MEDIA
12:30 p.m.Arctic lunch and discussion hosted by the Honourable Ann Meekitjuk Hanson, Commissioner ofNunavut(Their Excellencies will meet with Iqaluit residents involved in social issues such as volunteers, social workers, staff from the Qimaavik women's shelter, Pauktuutit and Qullit Status of Women representatives, and elders.)Commissioner's ResidencePHOTO-OP
3:00 p.m.Meeting with the Honourable Paul Okalik, Premier of Nunavut, and swearing-in of the new Deputy Commissioner Helen Naksagak(Their Excellencies will visit the Legislative Assembly and meet privately with the Premier.)Legislative Assembly PHOTO-OP UPON ARRIVAL AND OPEN TO MEDIA FOR SWEARING-IN
4:30 p.m.Toonik Tyme Festival(Their Excellencies will attend a demonstration of traditional Inuit outdoor games.)Nakasuk parking lotOPEN TO MEDIA
5:00 p.m.Visit to the Unikkaarvik Visitor Centre and the Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum(Their Excellencies will visit the Unikkaarvik Visitor Centre in the company of manager Angela Payne. They will also visit a new exhibition by students from the Nunavut Arctic College's Kimmimtand and Cape Dorset campuses in the company of Brian Lunger, Director of the Museum. The Museum is home to a large collection of Inuit and Arctic items.)PHOTO-OP
7:00 p.m.Official Dinner hosted by the Honourable Paul Okalik, Premier of Nunavut, in honour of Their Excellencies(The Premier and the Governor General will offer brief remarks. The Governor General will thank the people of Nunavut for their warm welcome. Representatives from various Inuit organizations and other dignitaries will be present.) Discovery Lodge HotelOPEN TO MEDIA FOR REMARKS
Wednesday, April 19 (Iqaluit)9:00 am.
Visit to the Nunavut Arctic College's Fine Arts and Crafts Department(Her Excellency will meet students of the department. The Nunavut Arctic College (NAC) offers a wide range of top-quality courses and programs that are based on the traditional values of Nunavut's people and are designed to help students pursue lifelong learning and personal development in an increasingly modern society. The NAC specifically offers a jewelry and medal work program. It is Nunavut's own college and has been the premier provider of post-secondary education and training programs for the people of Nunavut for more than 20 years.)OPEN TO MEDIA
2:00 p.m.Lunch and discussion with elders hosted by the City of Iqaluit(Their Excellencies will engage elders in an informal discussion.)Elders CentrePHOTO-OP
Wednesday, April 19 (Cape Dorset)
Cape Dorset is located on Dorset Island, off the coast of the Foxe Peninsula in the southwest corner of Baffin Island. It is in Cape Dorset that one can find the remains of an ancient Inuit people, who flourished between 1000 B.C. and 1100 A.D., the Dorset culture. The Inuit at Cape Dorset are direct descendants of the Thule. The Inuktitut name for Cape Dorset is Kingait, which means "this mountain". Cape Dorset has a population of approximately 1260 and is renowned for its outstanding resident artists, its printmaking, and its stone-carving shop. It is recognized as the most famous art producing community in Canada's North. Four Order of Canada recipients hail from Cape Dorset: Kenojuak, C.C., Kiawak Ashoona, O.C., Annie E. Manning, C.M., and Pitseolak Ashoona, C.M. (deceased).
5:30p.m.Arrival in Cape Dorset(The Governor General will be greeted by His Worship Fred Schell, Mayor of Cape Dorset, and Joe Taukie, Deputy Mayor. She will inspect a Canadian Rangers guard of honour and meet with residents at the airport.)
6:15 p.m.Private meeting with the Mayor and Hamlet councillorsHamlet Office
7:30 p.m.Community feast(The Governor General and Mayor Schell will offer remarks.)Peter Pitseolak School
Thursday, April 20 (Cape Dorset)
9:00 a.m.Tea with elders in igloo (weather permitting)
10:00 a.m.Discussion on social services and health care in a small Northern community(Their Excellencies will take part in a discussion with front-line staff seeking innovative ways to offer and manage health care and social programs and services in their communities.)Social Services Centre
12:30 p.m.Land excursion and tea with the community(Their Excellencies will take part in a land excursion by snowmobile in the Mallikjuaq Territorial Historic Park and stop at fishing cabin sites to have tea with the community.)
3:30 p.m.Visit to West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative and Printmaking Studio(Their Excellencies will meet with a number of Cape Dorset artists and see them at work.)
4:30 p.m.Visit to artists' homesTheir Excellencies will visit the homes of Pauta Saila, carver, Mr. Kiawak Ashoona, O.C., carver, Ms. Kenojuak Ashevak, C.C., printmaker, and Toonoo Sharky, young carver)
Friday, April 21 (Cape Dorset)
9:30 a.m.Visit to Peter Pitseolak School and celebration of Her Majesty The Queen's 80th birthday(April 21, 2006, marks Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's birthday. Their Excellencies will celebrate Her Majesty's birthday alongside the 300 students of Peter Pitseolak School and Sam Pudlat Elementary School. The Governor General will deliver remarks, visit the school with two students and engage a group of students in a discussion. Their Excellencies will donate books to the schools.)
Friday, April 21 (Iqaluit)12:15 p.m.Luncheon hosted by l'Association des francophones du Nunavut (Their Excellencies will meet with the Franco-Nunavummiuq community.) Centre communautaire de l'AFNPHOTO-OP
2:00 p.m.Depart Iqaluit for Ottawa(Commissioner Meekitjuk Hanson will bid farewell to Their Excellencies.)Iqaluit airportOPEN TO MEDIA
