June 15, 2006
OTTAWA -- Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, and Mr. Jean-Daniel Lafond will conduct their first regional visit to the Northwest Territories from June 19 to 23, 2006. The five-day visit will begin in Yellowknife with stops in Fort Simpson and in the Nahanni National Park Reserve of Canada.
Meeting with the Aboriginal community, youth and women will be at the core of the Governor General's visit to the Northwest Territories. Highlights will include celebrating National Aboriginal Day with a fire ceremony and a community feast in Fort Simpson, engaging in a discussion with young people at the Side Door Youth Centre in Yellowknife, taking part in a sod-turning ceremony for the city of Yellowknife's future homeless shelter, attending the True North Concert, learning more about the proposed expansion of the Nahanni National Park Reserve by visiting this UNESCO World Heritage site, as well as a discussion on family violence prevention with representatives of organizations working with women across the Northwest Territories.
This will be the ninth provincial and territorial visit by 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. To date, the Governor General has visited Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia, Nunavut, Alberta and Saskatchewan.
The detailed itinerary is attached. The schedule is subject to change. Please visit our Web site at www.gg.ca for more information on the Governor General.
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Media informationMarilyne GuèvremontRideau Hall Press OfficeUntil June 17, 2006: (613) 998-7280From June 18 to 24, 2006: 613 852-7021
Julia MottCoordinator, Cabinet CommunicationsOffice of the PremierGovernment of the Northwest Territories(867) 669-2304
Detailed ItineraryVisit to the Northwest Territories, June 19 to 23, 2006
Monday, June 19 -- Yellowknife, the territorial capital
Official arrival
10:00 a.m. Their Excellencies will be greeted by the Honourable Joseph Handley, Premier of the Northwest Territories, and the Honourable Paul Delorey, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. The welcoming ceremony will include the viceregal salute and the review of a guard of honour comprised of 12 Canadian Rangers and 6 Junior Rangers from across the Northwest Territories.Outdoors, Legislative AssemblyOPEN TO MEDIA
10:20 a.m. Official welcoming ceremonyTheir Excellencies will sign the official guest book and will then meet privately with the Premier and the Speaker. Following the meeting, Their Excellencies will tour the Legislative Assembly and proceed inside the Legislative Chamber where the Speaker will offer welcoming remarks, followed by Premier Handley. The Governor General will then deliver an address to the members of the Legislative Assembly and to the people of the Northwest Territories. Following her speech, Her Excellency will present the official registration document of the Northwest Territories' coat of arms to the Premier.Indoors, Legislative AssemblyOPEN TO MEDIAPHOTO OP AT THE BEGINNING OF MEETING WITH PREMIER AND SPEAKER; SPEECHES OPEN TO MEDIA
12:15 p.m. Tree planting and walkabout on the Legislative groundsThe public is invited to see Their Excellencies plant a tree to commemorate their official visit to the territory.Outdoors, Legislative AssemblyOPEN TO MEDIA
6:00 p.m. Courtesy call on Commissioner Tony WhitfordTheir Excellencies will meet with the Honourable Tony Whitford, Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, at his residence where the Governor General will present him with his personal coat of arms as well as the flag and insignia of the office of commissioner.CLOSED TO MEDIA
6:40 p.m. Dinner hosted by the Government of the Northwest TerritoriesThe Premier will host a dinner in honour of Their Excellencies' first official visit to the territory. The Premier and the Governor General will offer remarks.Joint Task Force (North) combined messesOPEN TO MEDIA FOR REMARKS
Tuesday, June 20 -- Yellownife
9:30 a.m. Outing on Great Slave Lake to visit the Canadian Rangers at Hideaway IslandThe Governor General will visit a group of Canadian Rangers and Junior Rangers on exercise on Hideaway Island. The Rangers will offer demonstrations of traditional skills such as fishing, snaring and trapping. 440 Squadron Float baseOPEN TO MEDIA
1:30 p.m. Discussion with youth at the Side Door Youth CentreThe Governor General will take part in a discussion with about 20 youth from The Side Door Youth Centre on the challenges of homelessness in a Northern context and on issues of importance to local youth. The youth centre serves about 150 street youth in Yellowknife, provides after-school child care, educational workshops, support for new immigrants and programs for young mothers.The Side Door Youth CentrePHOTO OP AT BEGINNING OF DISCUSSION
1:30 p.m. His Excellency: Discussion with Francophone community leadersAs part of an ongoing dialogue with Francophone communities across the country, His Excellency Jean-Daniel Lafond will hold a discussion on civic engagement with representatives of the Fédération Franco-TéNoise, the Association franco-culturelle de Yellowknife, the Commission scolaire francophone de division, the Association des parents ayants droit de Yellowknife and student leaders.École Allain St-Cyr (library)OPEN TO MEDIA
3:45 p.m. Sod-turning ceremonyThe public is invited to witness a ceremonial sod turning for the Yellowknife Homelessness Coalition Transitional Home, the City of Yellowknife's future homeless shelter. Her Excellency and Mayor Gordon Van Tighem will offer remarks.OPEN TO MEDIA
7:15 p.m. True North Concert The Governor General will deliver short remarks following the intermission at the True North Concert.Northern Arts Cultural CentreGOVERNOR GENERAL'S REMARKS OPEN TO MEDIA
Wednesday, June 21, National Aboriginal Day -- Fort Simpson
9:30 a.m. Arrival in Fort SimpsonThe Governor General will be greeted by the Dehcho First Nations Grand Chief, the Liidlii Kue First Nations Chief, Fort Simpson Métis Nation President Marie Lafferty, MLA Kevin Menicoche, and the Mayor of Fort Simpson, His Worship Duncan Canvin. Her Excellency will then inspect a Ranger guard of honour. Fort Simpson Airport OPEN TO MEDIA
10:15 a.m. Fire ceremonyAs part of the launch of National Aboriginal Day celebrations, Their Excellencies will witness a fire ceremony with traditional prayers, presentations of gifts and drumming.Papal SiteOPEN TO MEDIA
11:00 a.m. Tour of the communityThe public will have the opportunity to meet Their Excellencies when they tour the community. They will stop at McPherson House and pay their respects to the community's elders by visiting the Long Term Care facility at the Fort Simpson Health and Social Services Centre. Their final stop will be Albert Faille's House. OPEN TO MEDIA
4:30 p.m. Meeting with community leaders, elders and youthTheir Excellencies will meet with Fort Simpson's community leaders, elders and youth to discuss issues of importance to the community. Visitor Information Centre, boardroomCLOSED TO MEDIA
6:30 p.m. Community feastThe people of Fort Simpson are invited to a community feast to celebrate National Aboriginal Day. The feast will include performances and brief remarks by the Governor General.Papal SiteOPEN TO MEDIA
Thursday, June 22 -- Nahanni National Park Reserve of Canada and Yellowknife
8:00 a.m. Excursion to Nahanni National Park Reserve of CanadaThe Governor General will learn more about the proposed expansion of the park and related issues when she visits this UNESCO World Heritage site with Aboriginal and Parks Canada representatives.Parks Canada office, Fort Simpson
6:30 p.m. Discussion with heads of missionTheir Excellencies will hold an informal discussion with more than 20 heads of mission participating in the 2006 Northern Tour, on their impressions of Canada's North and on challenges facing the North.RCMP detachmentCLOSED TO MEDIA
7:15 p.m. Dinner hosted by Foreign Affairs Canada on the occasion of the 2006 Northern TourThe Premier and the Governor General will deliver remarks during dinner.Joint Task Force (North) combined messesOPEN TO MEDIA AT BEGINNING FOR REMARKS
Friday, June 23 -- Yellowknife
9:30 a.m. His Excellency: Discussion with filmmakers, artists, authors and local cultural leadersAs he has done in previous regional visits across Canada, His Excellency Jean-Daniel Lafond will address the theme of art and civic engagement when he meets with filmmakers, artists, authors and cultural leaders from Yellowknife.Wildcat CaféOPEN TO MEDIA
10:00 a.m. Discussion hosted by the Status of Women Council and the Centre for Northern FamiliesThe Governor General will discuss women's equality issues and family violence prevention programs with representatives of agencies serving women across the Northwest Territories.Centre for Northern FamiliesCLOSED TO MEDIA
