June 27, 2006
OTTAWA Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, and Mr. Jean-Daniel Lafond, with their daughter Marie-Éden, will conduct their first official visit to Newfoundland and Labrador from July 6 to 11, 2006. The visit will begin in St. John's and continue to Trinity, Corner Brook, Stephenville, La Grand'Terre (Mainland), Rocky Harbour, and Gros Morne National Park.
"Jean-Daniel and I have always been impressed by the strong sense of cultural identity of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, and we feel very privileged to witness it first-hand," said the Governor General. "We are eager to listen and learn about what matters to them, we want to get a sense of the challenges they face, and their success stories so that we can share them with the rest of the country."
Throughout her regional visits, the Governor General invites citizens, community groups, organizations and governments, bound by common goals, to share their expertise and experiences with one another.
Listening to youth, women, seniors, veterans, fishermen, members of the Canadian Coast Guard, and artists will be central to the Governor General's visit to Newfoundland. Highlights will include engaging in round-table discussions with front-line staff working in the field of family violence prevention; town officials and community youth leaders on community development and opportunities for youth in a small town; members of the Francophone community on life in a minority language situation; fishermen on the current state of island fisheries; and Canadian Coast Guard members on the work that they do.
To enhance their appreciation and knowledge of the province's unique and vibrant artistic community, Their Excellencies will visit The Rooms, attend a play by one of Canada's most celebrated playwrights at the Magnetic North Theatre Festival in St. John's, another play performed by the Rising Tide Theatre company in Trinity, and a cultural celebration with the residents of the Port-au-Port Peninsula.
Mr. Jean-Daniel Lafond will have an informal discussion with 15 independent filmmakers at the Newfoundland Independent Filmmakers Co-operative (NIFCO), an association of independent filmmakers, video and multi-media producers.
On two occasions, every resident of Newfoundland and Labrador and any visitor to the province will have a chance to meet the Governor General and Mr. Lafond. All are invited to attend the annual Garden Party in the presence of His Honour the Honourable Edward Moxon Roberts, Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland, and Her Honour Eve Roberts, on Friday, July 7, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., on the grounds of Government House. Their Honours and Their Excellencies will host another garden party in Corner Brook's Jubilee Field, as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the city, on Sunday, July 9, 2006, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
This will be the 10th provincial visit for the Governor General since the beginning of her mandate nine months ago. Governors general traditionally travel to every province and territory during their first year in office. Up to now, the Governor General has visited Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia, Nunavut, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the Northwest Territories.
A detailed itinerary of the Governor General's visit to Newfoundland and Labrador will be available on www.gg.ca on Tuesday, July 4, 2006.
-30-
Media information Lucie BrosseauRideau Hall Press Office 613 998-0287 or 613 301-6252www.gg.ca
Doris WalshExecutive Council, Communications BranchGovernment of Newfoundland and Labrador709 729-3812 or 709 691-7478
Lori Anne Companion Private Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor709 729-4494
