OTTAWA — Their Excellencies the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and Mrs. Sharon Johnston will be in Calgary, Alberta and Vancouver, British Columbia, from February 14 to 16, 2012.
Their Excellencies’ program in these cities will mainly focus on innovation, education and social causes, issues at the heart of the Governor General’s mandate. “Sharon and I are looking forward to continuing to engage with Calgarians and Vancouverites of all ages and from all walks of life who are dedicated to making a better future for their communities”, said the Governor General. “Returning to these cities will allow us to follow up on the outcome of some great initiatives, and get acquainted with new projects that are making smarter and more caring communities.”
Here is a detailed itinerary of the visit (local time of the cities visited indicated):
Tuesday, February 14
Calgary, Alberta
1 p.m.
Visit to an Aboriginal Head Start program
Her Excellency Sharon Johnston will meet with preschool children participating in the Aboriginal Head Start program offered through the Ben Calf Robe Society at Abbeydale School. She will also speak with teachers about the positive impact the program is having on the children and their families. For more information on the Aboriginal Head Start program, visit www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/hp-ps/dca-dea/prog-ini/ahsunc-papacun/index-eng.php.
Abbeydale School, 320 Abergale Drive
PHOTO OP – At the beginning of the visit
3 p.m.
Round-table Discussion with imagiNation 150
The Governor General will take part in a roundtable discussion organized by imagiNation 150 (i 150). Participants from the public, private, voluntary and cultural sectors will respond to the Governor General’s challenge to Canadians to envision what they or their organizations will contribute to Canada in 2017, when the country celebrates its 150th anniversary. For more information on i 150, please contact Colin Jackson, Board Chair, at colinmjack@gmail.com or 403-606-6401.
Calgary Chamber of Commerce, Room 205, 100 6th Avenue SW
PHOTO OP – Upon the arrival of the Governor General
3:30 p.m.
Visit to Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary’s Avenue 15 Homeless Youth Shelter
Her Excellency Sharon Johnston will visit the Avenue 15 Homeless Youth Shelter and meet with patrons, staff and volunteers to discuss its innovative programs and the youth it supports. The Governor General is patron of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada. For more information, visit www.boysandgirlsclubsofcalgary.ca.
938 - 15 th Avenue SW
PHOTO OP – At the end of Her Excellency’s visit
7 p.m.
Presentation of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
The Governor General will present The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Gold level to 40 Alberta youth. His Excellency will also deliver remarks to underline the participants’ various achievements within their respective communities. For more information, please visit www.dukeofed.org.
Fairmont Palliser, 133 9th Avenue SW
OPEN TO MEDIA
Media contact: Rosemarie Enslin, 403-245-8321 or enslin@enslinpr.com
Wednesday, February 15
Calgary, Alberta
9 a.m.
Visit to Arbor Lake School
The Governor General will visit Arbor Lake School, a Calgary Board of Education middle school of over 800 students. He will have the chance to meet some of the students to talk about the unique programs and philanthropic initiatives the school and its students are undertaking. The Governor General will take part in a Grade 9 ‘Civic Mirror’ discussion, a robotics and engineering demonstration at the school’s Integrated Technology Laboratory, as well as a question-and-answer period with students. For more information on Arbor Lake School, visit http://schools.cbe.ab.ca/b694.
27 Arbour Crest Drive NW
OPEN TO MEDIA
Wednesday, February 15
Coquitlam, British Columbia
12:00 p.m.
Visit to Maillardville
In Maillardville, Their Excellencies will visit cultural and historical sites that represent the strength of Francophone culture in western Canada. The Governor General and Mrs. Johnston will meet with community members to discuss how they have been successful in preserving and celebrating their culture while working closely with their neighbours and community members of other linguistic groups. Celebrating its 103rd anniversary this year, Maillardville is one of the oldest and largest francophone communities in western Canada. For more information, visit www.maillardville.com.
Place des Arts, 1120 Brunette Avenue
OPEN TO MEDIA
Media Contact: Isabelle Gingras, 604-515-7070 or igingras@maillardville.com
Wednesday, February 15
Vancouver, British Columbia
1:55 p.m.
Visit to Carnegie Community Centre
Their Excellencies will visit the Carnegie Centre, an important institution of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside community. They will meet with patrons and volunteers to discuss the social, educational, cultural and recreational activities offered by the centre for the benefit of local residents and learn why the centre has been labeled “the heart” of the community. For more information, visit www.carnegiecentre.ca.
401 Main Street
CLOSED TO MEDIA
2:45 p.m.
Visit to United We Can
As part of their visit to the Downtown Eastside community, Their Excellencies will meet with the staff and volunteers of United We Can and see the day-to-day operations of the organization. Since 1991, through its social initiatives and recycling programs, United We Can has created hundreds of job opportunities for people with multiple barriers to traditional employment while addressing issues of environmental sustainability. For more information, visit www.unitedwecan.ca.
39 East Hastings Street
OPEN TO MEDIA
3:20 p.m.
Skating with Participants of Hockey Education Reaching Out Society (H.E.R.O.S.)
The Governor General will put on his skates and join children, coaches and volunteers of H.E.R.O.S., a registered Canadian charitable organization that empowers children through ice hockey and education. H.E.R.O.S. started in 1999, in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, with a focus on children of diverse ethnicities, from socio-economically challenged neighbourhoods. It now operates 11 programs in eight cities across Canada, including Vancouver, Sunshine Coast, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Montréal. For more information, visit www.heroshockey.com.
Britannia Ice Rink, 1661 Napier Street
OPEN TO MEDIA
5:30 p.m.
Visit to Aboriginal Mother Centre
Following a previous visit to the centre in the spring of 2011, Her Excellency Sharon Johnston will spend a night and a morning with the women staying at the Centre. She will be able to better understand these women’s challenges, and see first-hand its best practices by participating in the Centre’s regular daily programming. For more information, visit www.aboriginalmothercentre.ca.
2019 Dundas Street
CLOSED TO MEDIA
7 p.m.
Presentation of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
The Governor General will present The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Gold level to 115 youth from across British Columbia. His Excellency will also deliver remarks to underline the participants’ various achievements within their respective communities. For more information, please visit www.dukeofed.org.
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, 900 West Georgia Street
OPEN TO MEDIA
Media contact: Craig McCulloch, 604-318-2566 or crm74@telus.net
Thursday, February 16
Vancouver, British Columbia
10:30 a.m.
Visit to Take a Hike Foundation
The Governor General will meet with participants of the Take a Hike program as well as take part in one of their outdoor education activities. This alternative education program engages at-risk youth through a unique combination of adventure-based learning, academics, counseling, and community involvement. For more information, visit www.takeahikefoundation.org.
Jericho Sailing Centre, 1300 Discovery Street
OPEN TO MEDIA
Media contact: Jaydeen Williams, 604-638-3385 or jaydeen@takeahikefoundation.org
12:45 p.m.
Visit to TRIUMF Laboratory
The Governor General will visit the TRIUMF laboratories to meet an international cohort of some of the world’s top scientists in physics, chemistry, and nuclear medicine, and take a behind-the-scenes tour of the unique facilities. In a rare moment of public access, His Excellency will visit TRIUMF’s main cyclotron accelerator. It is the largest device of its kind in the world and was recently recognized as one of Canada’s top 11 engineering achievements. The tour will also include a sneak preview of the new ARIEL laboratory, which will house Canada’s next accelerator flagship using superconducting technology. For more information, visit www.triumf.ca.
4004 Wesbrook Mall
OPEN TO MEDIA
2:30 p.m.
Roundtable Discussion on Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hosted by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and the University of British Columbia
The Governor General will participate in a dialogue with international and Canadian participants in the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2012 Annual Meeting. They will exchange ideas on how to foster the growth of global scientific entrepreneurship and on best practices for small- and medium-sized businesses to remain or become more innovative in the face of global pressure. For more information, visit www.science.gc.ca.
Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, 900 Canada Place Way
PHOTO OP – At the beginning of the discussion
3 p.m.
Visit with Aboriginal Members of Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) Canada
Her Excellency Sharon Johnston will visit with members of the Musqueam Indian Band Aboriginal HIPPY program. HIPPY Canada and Aboriginal HIPPY are unique programs designed to help parents teach their children and prepare them for the demands of primary school. Her Excellency will meet families and home visitors who will share stories of their children’s educational success and the visions of hope that early education provides. The Governor General is patron of the HIPPY program. For more information about HIPPY Canada, visit www.hippycanada.ca.
6735 Salish Drive
PHOTO OP – At the beginning of Her Excellency’s visit
7:30 p.m.
Opening Remarks at American Association for the Advancement of Science President’s Reception
The Governor General will deliver the opening address at the AAAS President’s reception on the eve of their Annual Meeting. In his remarks, His Excellency will discuss the important role of science and learning in the 21st century, as well as the opportunity to engage in a ‘diplomacy of knowledge’ to guide relationships between peoples and bring about a smarter, more caring world. This annual meeting of the association, being held in Canada for the first time in 30 years, is one of the most widely recognized science events in the world. For more information, visit www.aaas.org.
Vancouver Convention Centre, 1055 Canada Place
OPEN TO MEDIA
-30-
Media information:
Julie Rocheleau
Rideau Hall Press Office
613-993-2569
julie.rocheleau@gg.ca
www.gg.ca
