OTTAWATheir Excellencies the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, and Mr. Jean-Daniel Lafond, along with their daughter Marie-Éden, will visit Calgary from January 25 to 27, 2007, to take part in a variety of activities that will focus on international development, education in First Nations communities, women, youth, and the arts. This will be the Governor General's second visit to Alberta, her first official regional visit to Alberta took place in May 2006.
During her visit, the Governor General will:
deliver the closing keynote address for the first day of Engineers without Borders' annual national conference;
lead a discussion with 50 young Calgary artists on the way in which the arts can be used to reach out to marginalized youths and create stronger communities;
meet with the Honourable Ed Stelmach, Premier of Alberta;
visit the Stoney Nakoda Nation's Eagle's Nest Family Shelter in Morley;
tour the Banff Centre and together with Jean-Daniel Lafond lead a discussion with visual artists;
engage Siksika Nation graduates from the University of Calgary's Master of Teaching Program Siksika Option in a round-table discussion on the success of the program in preparing them to teach in their community;
attend the world premiere of the new Canadian opera Frobisher by John Estacio and John Murrell, a co-commissioned and co-produced piece between the Calgary Opera and The Banff Centre.
Media interested in covering the events are asked to contact Lucie Brosseau at the Rideau Hall Press Office.
The detailed itinerary follows.
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Itinerary for the Governor General's visit to Calgary, January 25 to 27
Thursday January 25 (Calgary)
4:30 p.m.OPEN TO MEDIAEngineers Without Borders (EWB) 2007 Annual Conference (Britannia room, Westin Hotel, 320-4 Ave SW)The Governor General will deliver the closing keynote address for the first day of Engineers without Borders' Annual National Conference. During her State visits to Algeria, Mali, Ghana, South Africa and Morocco, the Governor General witnessed first‑hand the contributions made by EWB and the philosophy of guidance and non‑interference that underlines their work. Two EWB members were part of the official delegation. EWB is a charitable organization formed of engineering university students and young professional engineers dedicated to international development.
6:30 p.m.OPEN TO MEDIA FOR TOUR AND OPENING REMARKS Discussion on youth engagement, community building and the arts and culture in Calgary (Quickdraw Animation Society, 201-351 11th Avenue SW)The Governor General will tour the Quickdraw Animation Society's facilities and participate in a discussion with approximately 50 young artists from Calgary, who will talk about their experiences working in the arts and how arts and culture can be used to engage youth in community building and sustainable development.
Friday January 26 (Calgary-Morley- Banff)
(Calgary)
8:30 a.m.PHOTO-OP in foyerCourtesy call with the Honourable Ed Stelmach, Premier of Alberta (Foyer, McDougall Centre, 6 Street SW)
(Morley)
10:00 a.m.CLOSED TO MEDIA Visit to the Eagle's Nest Family Shelter (Stoney Nakoda Nation, Morley)As Governor General, Michaëlle Jean works with women's groups, giving them a voice and encouraging them. During her regional visits across Canada, she meets with women's groups to share initiatives and actions taken in this country to celebrate their achievements.
(Banff)
Visit to The Banff Centre and round-table discussion with local artistsOPEN TO MEDIA3:00 p.m.Their Excellencies will tour the Eric Harvie Theatre, Glyde Hall, and the Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Building, in the company of Ms. Mary Hofstetter, President of The Banff Centre, and Ms. Sarah Iley, Vice-President of programming at the Banff Centre and Mr. Jim Olver, Director of customer service.
4:00 p.m. (TransCanada PipeLines Pavillion)Their Excellencies will lead a round-table discussion with visual artists. In 2006, His Excellency Mr. Jean-Daniel Lafond created Art Matters, a forum for reflection and dialogue on the arts, which precedes the presentation ceremonies of the arts and culture awards at Rideau Hall. The ceremonies give much needed encouragement to creativity by celebrating the various disciplines and are an extraordinary opportunity to bring together those who have paved the way in our artistic community and those whose young talents are beginning to emerge. Following the debates, the public is also invited to share in the debate by answering a question on one of the blogs at www.citizenvoices.gg.ca.
Saturday January 27 (Calgary)
2:30 p.m.OPEN TO MEDIAMeeting with graduates of the University of Calgary Master of Teaching Program Siksika option (University Club, 4th floor MacEwan Student Centre)The Governor General will participate in a reunion of 12 Siksika teachers who graduated from the University of Calgary's Master of Teaching program in June 2006. The teachers participated in a unique teacher-training program that combines Aboriginal language, culture and teaching traditions with mainstream educational practices.
7:15 p.m.PHOTO-OP UPON ARRIVAL and OPEN TO MEDIAPremiere of Frobisher, (Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium)Their Excellencies will attend the opening night of Frobisher, a new Canadian opera composed by John Estacio and librettist John Murrell, and co-commissioned and co-produced by Calgary Opera and The Banff Centre.
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Media information
Lucie BrosseauRideau Hall Press Office
In Ottawa: 613-998-0287In Calgary: 613-301-6252
www.gg.ca
