General Information
The Golden Jubilee - A Canadian Celebration
February 6, 1952, the Accession Day of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, is an important day in Canadian history. On that date, Canada began a very special and connected relationship with its new Queen. Our nation, however, welcomed more than its Queen. Our country welcomed the beginning of an era replete with accomplishments on every level - from individual achievements, to some of our nation's greatest changes. Her Majesty The Queen's Golden Jubilee is a time to look back and reflect on her distinguished 50 years as Queen of Canada, and to honour the accomplishments during her reign. Canadians are invited by Royal Proclamation to celebrate in tandem Her Majesty's 50th year as Queen of Canada, and all that Canada has become during that time. Indeed, the year 2002 is "The Queen's Golden Jubilee: A Canadian Celebration."
The Canadian Crown - A Brief Background
Under our system of constitutional monarchy, the Queen is our Head of State: She represents the people as citizens, as opposed to a head of government, who represents the people as voters. In Canada, the Queen is represented by the offices of the Governor General (in federal matters) and the ten Lieutenant Governors (in provincial affairs). These distinguished Canadians serve as spokespersons for the Queen.
The Canadian Crown has continued to evolve as a fundamental element of our system of government and our larger sense of identity. This is most evident in the institution's daily function and its visible face to the nation. For example, the appointment of Vincent Massey as the first Governor General of Canadian origin since Confederation, in the same year as Her Majesty's accession, was a milestone in our history. Ongoing appointments of individuals to the offices of Governor General and Lieutenant-Governor have continued to mirror our contemporary society - a society embracing diversity and multiculturalism.
50 Years of Canadian Accomplishments
As the country marks the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty's reign, it is also timely to reflect on those things to which she and her 50 years of service have played witness. The Canada of 1952 is fundamentally different today. Our diversity is regarded worldwide as something to be cherished. Indeed, our core values and democratic principles are constants that permeate all facets of our lives. In essence, the Queen has had a very tangible presence in witnessing the evolution of our shared citizenship which is inherent in values we cherish (e.g., social responsibility as reflected in the Canada Health Act) and principles/institutions (e.g., equality of all citizens enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the dignity of the person safeguarded by the Canadian Human Rights Commission). The Queen has stressed that the Golden Jubilee should be a time of community activities and good will, a celebration of our accomplishments and our traditions. The theme as developed by the Department of Canadian Heritage is "The Queen's Golden Jubilee - 1952-2002 - 'A Canadian Celebration'."
The Year 2002
The Canadian Golden Jubilee celebrations begin in February 2002 with the launch of the celebrations by the Minister of Canadian Heritage, culminating in the highlight of the year's activities and events: the royal visit of Her Majesty The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in October 2002, including stops in Nunavut, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, and the National Capital Region.