Ottawa – Their Excellencies the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and Mrs. Sharon Johnston will stay at the Residence of the Governor General at the Citadelle of Québec from October 2 to 7, 2014.
While there, Their Excellencies will invite the public to come and discover the Citadelle at the third annual Fall Celebration, and to mark the 100th anniversary of the Royal 22e Régiment. The Governor General will also welcome five new heads of diplomatic missions to Canada, and present honours to about sixty Canadians in recognition of their extraordinary dedication, achievements or bravery.
Their Excellencies will also take part in the inauguration of a new section of the Trans Canada Trail at Petite-Rivière-Saint-François and will visit Maison l’Éclaircie in Québec as part of Mental Illness Awareness Week. The Governor General will also recognize the personal accomplishments and dedication of young Canadians with the presentation of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and will deliver a speech at the 2014 International Summit of Cooperatives.
Below is Their Excellencies’ detailed itinerary:
Thursday, October 2
Québec, Quebec
9 a.m.
Inspection of a Royal 22e Régiment quarter guard
As commander-in-chief of Canada, the Governor General will conduct an inspection of a Royal 22e Régiment quarter guard to mark his arrival at the Citadelle.
The Citadelle of Québec
Open to media
10 a.m.
Presentation of letters of credence
His Excellency will receive the letters of credence of heads of diplomatic missions representing the following five countries: the Kingdom of Sweden, the Republic of Turkey, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Slovak Republic and Brunei Darussalam.
Letters of credence are the official documents by which new heads of diplomatic missions are presented by their head of State as their official representative. There are currently more than 170 heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Canada.
The Citadelle of Québec
Open to media
Friday, October 3
Québec, Quebec
10 a.m.
Presentation of honours
During this ceremony, the Governor General will recognize 32 people for their extraordinary dedication, achievements or bravery. They will receive the following honours:
- 22 Decorations for Bravery;
- 2 Meritorious Service Decorations (Civil Division);
- 1 first Bar to the Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal;
- 1 Fire Services Exemplary Service Medal;
- 1 Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal;
- 2 Governor General’s Northern Medal;
- 1 Governor General’s Academic Medal;
- 2 Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award.
The list of recipients, their citations and additional information will be published in a separate media advisory. For more information about the Canadian Honours System, visit www.gg.ca/honours.
The Citadelle of Québec
Open to media
2 p.m.
Presentation of Decorations for Bravery and Meritorious Service Decorations (Military Division)
During this ceremony, the Governor General will present 2 Decorations for Bravery and 29 Meritorious Service Decorations (Military Division) to members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and allied forces whose specific achievements brought honour to the CAF and to Canada.
The list of recipients, their citations and additional information will be published in a separate media advisory.
The Citadelle of Québec
Open to media
Saturday, October 4
Québec, Quebec
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Fall Celebration at the Citadelle
As part of the festivities marking the 100th anniversary of the Royal 22e Régiment, Their Excellencies invite the public to join them at the Citadelle of Québec for the Fall Celebration. In addition to discovering the Residence of the Governor General, visitors will have the opportunity to attend culinary demonstrations, learn some of the finer point of dining etiquette, and find out more about Canadian honours and heraldry in Canada.
A variety of outdoor kiosks will also allow visitors to meet members of the CAF and to discover various aspects of military life. They will also have the opportunity to take part in zip lining and repelling activities, and to attend Beating the Retreat ceremonies and a jump by the CAF parachute team, the SkyHawks (weather permitting). Military vehicles will be on display and visitors will be able to explore the new Musée Royal 22e Régiment, which recounts the regiment’s history over the past 100 years.
All Fall Celebration activities are free of charge. More information about this event will be published is a separate media advisory.
The Citadelle of Québec
Open to media
Monday, October 6
Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, Quebec
10:30 a.m.
Inauguration of the Louise-Gasnier Trail
As patrons of the Trans Canada Trail, Their Excellencies will take part in the inauguration of a section of the new Louise-Gasnier Trail, which will connect to the Trans Canada Trail and the Charlevoix networks. The Governor General will deliver remarks and take part in the ribbon cutting ceremony, along with His Worship Gérard Maltais, Mayor of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François, Dominic Tremblay, deputy reeve of the MRC de Charlevoix, and Jean-Luc Caillaud, an administrator with the Conseil québécois du sentier Transcanadien.
Accompanied by partners and volunteers, Their Excellencies will then follow the trail on foot for a few kilometres through the forest.
Intersection of Route 138 and Principale Street, Petite-Rivière-Saint-François
Open to media
Media contact: Richard Senécal, Conseil québécois du sentier Transcanadien, 1-800-465-3636, ext. 4356 or rsenecal@tctrail.ca / Gay Decker, Trans Canada Trail, 514-485-4350 or gdecker@tctrail.ca
Monday, October 6
Québec, Quebec
5 p.m.
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award ceremony
The Governor General will recognize the achievements of 25 young people from various parts of the province of Quebec who have completed the Gold level by presenting them with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. His Excellency will deliver an address on this occasion.
The Awards recognize the recipients’ dedication and personal accomplishments within their communities. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award’s three levels—Bronze, Silver and Gold—encourage youth between the ages of 14 and 24 to pursue activities in four areas: community service, physical fitness, skills development and outdoor exploration. Gold level participants must also complete a residential project. To learn more about the Award, visit http://www.dukeofed.org/home.
Montmagny Room, Le Château Frontenac
Open to media
Media contact: Tony Gagné, Executive Director, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, 418-623-0187 or tgagne@lpde.org
Tuesday, October 7
Québec, Quebec
8:30 a.m.
Opening session of the 2014 International Summit of Cooperatives
At the day’s opening session, the Governor General will deliver remarks on how cooperatives can benefit from innovation. He will then attend a presentation given by Robert J. Shiller, 2013 Nobel Co-Laureate in Economics, and will take part in a round table on the challenges facing the global economy.
The International Summit of Cooperatives’ second edition will be held in the City of Québec from October 6 to 9, 2014. Under the theme “Cooperatives’ Power of Innovation,” the Summit will welcome over 2 500 executives and influential figures from the cooperation and mutualist sector in 93 countries. This event is being organized jointly by the Desjardins Group and the International Co-operative Alliance. For more information, visit www.sommetinter.coop/cms/en_CA/home.html.
Québec City Convention Centre, 1000 René-Lévesque Boulevard East
Open to media
Media contact: Mathieu Lavallée, media relations, International Summit of Cooperatives, 514-947-7628 or media@sommetinter.coop
2:30 p.m.
Visit to Maison l’Éclaircie
As part of Mental Illness Awareness Week, which will take place from October 5 to 10, Their Excellencies will visit Maison l’Éclaircie and talk with employees who will give them an overview of the various services the organization provides. People suffering from an eating disorder and those who are close to them will then share their experiences, and talk with Their Excellencies, volunteers and stakeholders.
Maison l’Éclaircie helps people aged 14 and older from the City of Québec region who are suffering from anorexia or bulimia. The community organization also provides support to parents and loved ones in an empathetic, creative environment. For more information, visit www.maisoneclaircie.qc.ca (website available in French only).
Official photographers only
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