Unveiling of the New Canadian Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II In Honour of the 50th Anniversary of Her Coronation
OTTAWA, June 2, 2003 -- To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen's coronation, Don Boudria, Minister of State and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, on behalf of Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps, today unveiled the new Canadian portrait of the Queen.The portrait was unveiled at almost the same time that Her Majesty departed Westminster Abbey after having taken her coronation oath Ñ fifty years ago.
"On the occasion of her 21st birthday in 1947, the then Princess Elizabeth pledged that her entire life, whether long or short, would be in service of others. With her coronation oath six years later, she once again committed herself to this noble ideal," said Minister Copps. "In more than half a century as Queen of Canada, she has been the epitome of service, commitment and dedication."
"I am happy to take part in this historic unveiling," said Minister Boudria. "Her Majesty the Queen personifies the freedom and democratic values that we cherish."
Students from a class at the Queen Elizabeth II School in Ottawa, which had recently studied the issue of constitutional monarchy, were present for the ceremony. Two of the students helped Minister Boudria unveil the portrait.
The portrait, measuring 1.23 x 1.54 metres, shows Her Majesty in a gold gown, wearing her insignia as Sovereign of the Order of Canada and the Order of Military Merit. A Canadian flag is in the immediate background. It was taken by Ottawa photographer Michael Bedford at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Quebec, on October 13, 2002, as part of the tremendously successful Golden Jubilee Visit. The portrait will be on display in the Foyer of the Senate of the Parliament buildings until such time as it is permanently relocated to the Portrait Gallery of Canada.
Copies of the portrait, measuring 36 cm x 44 cm, and suitable for framing, are available to Canadians and can be downloaded from the Department of Canadian Heritage Web site at http://www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/special/reine-queen
Copies can also be obtained by contacting regional offices of Canadian Heritage (listed in the Government pages of your telephone book) or the provincial-territorial offices of the chiefs of protocol (see attached or consult the Ceremonial and Canadian Symbols Promotion web site at http://www.pch.gc.ca/protocol ).
Information:
Sonya-Kim St- Julien
Press Secretary
Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788
Protocol Offices / Bureaux de protocole
Ontario
Office of International Relations and Protocol / Bureau du protocole et relations internationales
Telephone / téléphone : 416-325-8535
E-mail / courriel : ishdel.halliday@eoi.gov.ca
Quebec / Québec
Protocol Office / Le bureau du protocole
Telephone / téléphone : 418-649-2346
Nova Scotia / Nouvelle-Écosse
Protocol Office / Bureau du protocole
Telephone / téléphone : 902-424-6740
E-mail / courriel : nsprot@gov.ns.ca
New Brunswick / Nouveau-Brunswick
Protocol Office / Bureau du protocole
Telephone / téléphone : 506-453-2671
E-mail / courriel : anne.reynolds@gnb.ca
Manitoba
Protocol of Manitoba / Bureau du protocole - Manitoba
Executive Council Office / Bureau du conseil exécutif
Telephone / téléphone : 204-945-5239
E-mail / courriel : pfraser@leg.gov.mb.ca
British Columbia / Colombie-Britannique
Protocol and Events Branch / Direction générale des évènements et protocole
Telephone / téléphone : 250-287-1616
E-mail / courriel : protocol@gems9.gov.bc.ca
Prince Edward Island / Île-du-Prince-Édouard
Protocol Office / Bureau du protocole
Telephone / téléphone : 902-368-5895
E-mail / courriel : www.gov.pe.ca/protocol
Saskatchewan
Protocol Office / Bureau du protocole
Telephone / téléphone : 306-787-3108
Alberta
Protocol Office / Bureau du protocole
Telephone / téléphone : 780-422-1845
E-mail / courriel : normdavies@gov.ab.ca
Newfoundland and Labrador
Protocol Office / Bureau du protocole
Telephone / téléphone : 709-729-3670
E-mail / courriel : thomasinebarry@mail.gov.ns.ca
Northwest Territories
Protocol Office / Bureau du protocole
Telephone / téléphone : 867-873-7167
E-mail / courriel : carmen_moore@gov.nt.ca
Yukon Territory
Protocol Office / Bureau du protocole
Telephone / téléphone : 867-667-5875
E-mail / courriel : pamela.bangart@gov.yk.ca
Nunavut
Protocol Office / Bureau du protocole
Telephone / téléphone: 867-975-5059
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