B 6 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday October 9,2002 · Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II - A royal biography Her Majesty The Queen was bom in London on April 21, 1926 and later christened Elizabeth Alexandra Mary. She was the first child o f The Duke and Duchess of York, who later became King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The Princess Elizabeth, along with her sister the Princess Margaret (bom four years later), had her early education at home and, after her father succeeded to the Throne in 1936, became heiress presumptive. Shortly after her eighteenth birthday, she was appointed Counsellor of State during the King's absence and, for the first time, exercised certain functions of the Crown. After the Second World War, The Princess Elizabeth's public engagements grew in number and frequency. During her first official visit overseas in 1947, she celebrated her 21st birthday at which time she made an international radio address pronouncing: "I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service..." On November 20, 1947, The Princess Elizabeth married Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, now His Royal Highness The Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh. They have four children: The Prince Charles (1948), now The Prince of Wales; The Princess Anne (1950), now The Princess Royal; The Prince Andrew (1960), now The Duke of York and The Prince Edward (1964), now The Earl of Wessex. The couple first toured Canada as Their Royal Highnesses The Princess Elizabeth and The Duke of Edinburgh in the autumn of 1951, travelling from coast to coast. Thus began their lifelong relationship of affection for and service to our country. Following the untimely death of her father King George VI on February 6, 1952, The Princess Elizabeth acceded to the Throne as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and was separately proclaimed Queen of Canada. The Coronation took place 16 months later on June 2, 1953. As Canada's Head of State, Her Majesty has been served by nine Governors General (Vincent Massey, 1952-59; Georges Vanier, 1959-67; Roland Michener, 1967-74; Jules Leger, 197479; Ed Schreyer, 1979-84; Jeanne Sauve, 198490; Ramon Hnatyshyn, 1990-95; Romeo LeBlanc, 1995-99; Adrienne Clarkson, 1999present) and nine Prime Ministers (Louis StLaurent, 1948-57; John Diefenbaker, 1957-63; Lester B. Pearson, 1963-68; Pierre Elliot Trudeau, 1968-79 and 1980-84; Joseph Clark, 1979-80; John Turner, 1984; Brian Mulronqy, 1984-1993; Kim Campbell, 1993; Jean Chretien, 1993-present). Throughout her reign, Canada has seen many key historical developments: our evolution as a bilingual and multicultural society, our rededica tion to democratic principles and our enhance ment of a collective sense of shared values and purpose. She has been, and continues to be, a funda mental part of that identity. As Prime Minister p re sen c e on n u m ero u s o cca sio n s, a n d have alw ays adm ired y o u r com m itm ent to Canada and yo u r very genuine affection fo r Canadians. An official portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, who will be visiting Oakville during her golden jubilee celebration. Jean Chretien stated in his congratulatory mes sage to Her Majesty The Queen on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Her Accession to the Throne (February 6, 2002): As Q ueen o f Canada, you have borne w itness to o u r national grow th and, indeed, have been p resen t fo r m any historic m om ents in the life o f o u r country. I have h a d the honour to be in yo u r Over the past 50 years, Her Majesty has main tained a very visible and significant presence in our country. She has also been witness to many historic occasions. In 1957, she officially opened the 1st session of the 23rd Parliament; presided over the inaugu ration of the St-Lawrence Seaway in 1959; cele brated the Centennial of Confederation with Canadians in 1967; declared open the 21st Olympiad in Montreal in 1976; was honoured for her Silver Jubilee anniversary in 1977; pro claimed the Constitution Act, 1982 which emcompasses the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms; officiated at the opening of the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton in 1978 and Victoria in 1994 to name but a few. On numerous fronts, The Queen's relationship with Canada and Canadians continues to grow stronger with each passing year. She has given her patronage to many Canadian organizations and retains a special relationship with the Canadian Forces. As our Head of State, she is the fount of our Canadian Honours System that recognizes signif icant achievement and service of Canadians in numerous fields of human endeavour, such as the Order of Canada, Order of Military Merit, as well as decorations for bravery, meritorious service and for gallantry. --with file s fro m w w w .canadianheritage.ga.ca The Queen and Canada - 50 years of growing together "1 would like to thank people everywhere for the loyalty, support, and inspiration you have given me over these fifty, unforgettable years. I would like to express my pride in our past and my confi dence in our future." On April 30, 2002, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II spoke these words that reflect both her unfaltering sense of duty and dedication to service that transcend the years. It is in this very context that the upcoming Royal Visit of The Queen in October 2002 will be seen as an ideal opportunity for all Canadians to reflect upon commitment and service, as well as what we have collectively built over the 50 years of Her Majesty's reign as Queen of Canada. With the passage of years, both Canada and the Canadian Crown have evolved and shared in the celebration of key moments and events together. Since Her Majesty's accession to the Throne, our accomplishments have been as varied and numerous as they are historic - from the open ing of the St. Lawrence Seaway (1959), to the patriation of the Canadian Constitution (1982), to the creation of Nunavut (1999). These and many other events have helped shape us as a people and a country. The Queen has been with us to celebrate many of these moments - a celebration of who and what we are. As our Head of State throughout these years and on these occasions, she has unfail ingly typified continuity, stability and integrity. From the moment she was proclaimed Queen of Canada, Queen Elizabeth II has had an impact on every facet of Canadian society. As Patron of many Canadian organizations - some spanning the 50 years of her reign, including the Canadian Cancer Society, the Canadian Red Cross Society, and Save the Children Canada, - she has helped raise public awareness of issues of profound importance to all Canadians. As the first female member of the Royal Family to actively serve in the military, she continues to profile the critical role of the Canadian Forces (including peacekeep ers) in our lives by serving as Colonel in Chief of many regiments in every region of the country. As Sovereign of the Order of Canada, the Order of Military Merit, the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, and The Royal Victorian Order, she calls public attention to significant achievement and the exemplary service of Canadians in numerous fields of human endeavour, as well as decorations for bravery, meritorious service and for gallantry. "I was alw ays im pressed n ot only by the grace she displayed in public a t all times, but by the w is dom she show ed in private conversation." (The Memoirs of The Late Prime Minister, Pierre E. Trudeau) Many Governors General and Prime Ministers have commented over the years on how interested and well informed Her Majesty is about Canada and current issues of concern to this country. The first Governor General to serve her was Vincent Massey and the first Prime Minister, Louis St. Laurent. Since then she has been represented in the country by nine Governors General including the first Canadian-born as well as the first, and now (See `Queen's' page B7) T tlf CflnDLELIOtlT < 2)flLL The O akville-Trafalgar M em orial Hospital Charitable C orporation invites you to. mm dn tiKJMT mm urnm. norattt m u .2 0 0 2 at the Burlington Convention Centre m m A N DDIM.. A stylish evening with good friends. d a n c in g10m m u s icO f ... The Russ Little Band Tickets, $ 2 5 0 /p e rs o n - Proceeds to The O akville Trafalgar M em orial Hospital (a charitable receipt w ill be issue for eligible portion) For early reservations o r further inform ation, please contact Aleta Mayer P . 9 0 5 -3 3 8 -4 6 4 2 amayer@ haltonhealthcare.on.ca F . 9 0 5 -3 3 8 -4 1 3 5 GOLD SPONSORS BURLINGTON CONVENTION CENTRE SIIV FR S P O N S O R S - Worgei Qtfe Q io i Wlowers ' ;.. 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