- About the Jubilee
- Calendar of Events
- Greetings To The Queen
- Medal Program
- Social Media
- Royal Tour 2012
As a constitutional monarch, the Sovereign is the embodiment of the Canadian Crown and plays a key role in our parliamentary system of government. Further, Her Majesty contributes to our collective sense of identity and symbolizes the values, rights and freedoms that we all share as citizens of Canada.
The Queen's contribution and service to our country spans 60 years!
In 2012, Canada is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the accession of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to the Throne as Queen of Canada. To mark this Diamond Jubilee, the Government of Canada is implementing special initiatives to honour The Queen's reign, her service and her dedication to this country, and to celebrate Canadian achievements of the last 60 years.
The Diamond Jubilee is an opportunity to celebrate our traditions, history, symbols, values and institutions, and in particular the role of the Crown in Canada. The Jubilee will highlight how Canada has evolved over the past 60 years under Her Majesty's reign, and will look to the future of our nation and how our young people will contribute to the building of our country in another 60 years.
For 60 years, Her Majesty has exemplified the true meaning of service-service to Canada and Canadians-with steadfast purpose and dedication. The Diamond Jubilee is an opportunity to highlight those Canadians who, like Her Majesty, have dedicated themselves to service to family, community and country.
Diamond Jubilee celebrations in Canada begin on February 6, 2012, and will continue throughout the year. Celebratory initiatives include a medal program, funding for community celebrations, and a public awareness and education component.
Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall have accepted the invitation of the Government of Canada to undertake a Royal Tour in May 2012. As part of Canada's celebration of Her Majesty The Queen's Diamond Jubilee, the Royal Tour by Their Royal Highnesses will include stops in New Brunswick, Ontario, and Saskatchewan.
During the Diamond Jubilee year in 2012, Diamond Jubilee Medals will be awarded to Canadians who have made significant contributions to their communities and nation or whose achievements abroad have brought credit to Canada.
The Diamond Jubilee Medal Program is administered by the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General. Visit the website to find out how to nominate a worthy Canadian.
The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal was presented to 60 recipients from across the country and various walks of life during the inaugural presentation ceremony on February 6th, 2012, at Rideau Hall.
His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, presided over the ceremony, along with the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada. This event marked the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada.
"The first 60 recipients with us today represent a mosaic of individual experiences and accomplishments; most do not even know each other," said His Excellency. "But after today, you have a common bond with one another. I encourage you to continue your work in building a country of which we can all be proud, as well as to inspire others to take up the call to help people in need."
The observe of the Diamond Jubilee Medal portrays a contemporary effigy of The Queen wearing the Royal Crown.
The reverse of the medal includes stylized maple leaves and the years 1952 and 2012, denoting 60 years of Her Majesty's reign as Queen of Canada.
To consult the Diamond Jubilee themes
Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall have accepted the invitation of the Government of Canada to undertake a Royal Tour in May 2012. The Royal Couple will tour Canada from May 20 to 23, 2012, visiting four communities in three provinces.
A full itinerary is being developed in collaboration with municipal, provincial and federal partners, Clarence House, and private organizations. The official itinerary will be announced closer to the start of the Royal Tour.
From the moment she was proclaimed Queen of Canada, Her Majesty The Queen has demonstrated deep affection, loyalty and dedication to service. Her Majesty first visited Canada in October and November 1951 as a young married princess representing her father King George VI. Her tour was the first one involving air travel, and the first to be broadcast by television. Upon the death of her father on February 6, 1952, Her Majesty acceded to the throne as Queen.
To launch the Diamond Jubilee year, a gallery of 60 images highlights key moments spanning The Queen’s reign, beginning with this official portrait by legendary Canadian photographer Yousuf Karsh.
Queen Elizabeth II is known to Canadians largely through her 23 tours of Canada, beginning with her first tour in 1951 as Princess. Apart from her role as Canada’s Head of State, The Queen is also a very public mother, grand-mother and great-grandmother.
In 1976, Her Majesty was accompanied by her family to open the XXI Summer Olympics in Montréal. Together, they cheered on The Queen’s daughter, Princess Anne (now “The Princess Royal”) who was competing in equestrian events. The Queen gave the face of the Crown in Canada a new personality by blending her royal duties with her family life.
As Queen of Canada, Her Majesty is the living embodiment of the Crown (inclusive of the Governor General and the Lieutenant Governors) and provides a collective sense of identity and belonging to the country. In 1957, The Queen became the first sovereign to deliver in person the Speech from the Throne in Canada’s Parliament. It was also the first Speech from the Throne broadcast nationwide on television.
In addition to her official duties as sovereign, The Queen is also personally involved in raising public awareness of issues of profound importance and concern to all Canadians through her service as patron of many Canadian organizations, such as the Canadian Cancer Society, the Canadian Red Cross, and Save the Children.
For more than 60 years, The Queen has spent a great deal of time in Canada with Canadians in every province and territory. She made her first tour as Princess Elizabeth in 1951 with her husband, The Duke of Edinburgh.
Since then, The Queen has continued to travel to all regions of Canada and has been both a witness to and a participant in many historic national events. During her most recent tour in 2010, she provided insight with regard to her affection to Canada when she remarked “thank you again for your welcome… it is very good to be home.” The Queen is noted for her accessibility during public events where she meets as many Canadians as possible.
The Queen’s signature style through six decades of changing trends requires mixing personal style with a working wardrobe. Especially during long Royal Tour itineraries, dressing for official duties must be balanced with dressing for comfort.
During her visit to Expo ’67 in Montréal, The Queen favoured a modern duster coat and dress with bright floral patterns. Her Majesty is noted for maintaining a tradition that has largely faded from daily life in contemporary Canada: wearing a stylish hat.
The Queen has been personally involved in marking many of Canada’s historic milestones and achievements, playing an integral part in defining moments in Canadian history.
To celebrate Canada’s centennial, Her Majesty was invited to cut a massive 20-foot high cake on Parliament Hill. The ceremonial cake was decorated with 700 pounds of icing sugar and 40,000 frosted cupcakes were handed out to the packed crowd gathered for the July 1 celebration.
Queen Elizabeth II has been an avid equestrian her whole life and is an enthusiastic supporter of excellence in sports. From awarding medals on the podium at the Commonwealth Games to officially opening the XXI Montréal Summer Olympics and visiting the winner’s circle at The Queen’s Plate horse races, The Queen has enjoyed witnessing the achievements of Canadian athletes.
During her first official Canadian tour in 1951, The Queen attended hockey games and thoroughly enjoyed herself. Fifty-one years later, The Queen continued to participate in Canada’s national pastime where she delighted in dropping a puck from centre ice at a Vancouver Canucks game.
Every Royal Tour of Canada includes opportunities to meet young Canadians and learn about their interests, activities and contributions to their community and country. As a young princess, The Queen was herself involved in service as a Girl Guide and later, as a Sea Ranger. During the Second World War, she made her first public speech on a radio broadcast to the children of the Commonwealth.
During her Royal Tours throughout Canada, Her Majesty is frequently presented with bouquets from children.
The Queen has been an avid supporter of Canadian literary, film, music, architecture, visual, media and performing arts. Indeed, her reign has mirrored the explosion of cultural excellence that has taken place in every corner of Canada. In addition, Her Majesty has bestowed the honour of Royal designation on several cultural entities, beginning with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. The company was granted its designation in 1953, the year of The Queen’s coronation.
As the representative of the Queen in Canada, the Governor General’s Awards in Arts reinforce Her Majesty’s continued support to culture and ongoing testament to the promotion and recognition of the arts as a key element of Canadian identity.
As head of Her Majesty’s Canadian Armed Forces, Queen Elizabeth II draws public attention to the significant achievement and the exemplary role of Canadian service men and women and the past contributions of our valiant veterans. During the Second World War, the then Princess Elizabeth became the first female member of the Royal Family to actively serve in the military. At age 18, she volunteered with the Auxiliary Territorial Service to train to drive and repair heavy transport vehicles.
Today, The Queen highlights the critical contributions of the Canadian Armed Forces, by serving as Colonel-in-Chief of many regiments in every region of the country.
Throughout the Diamond Jubilee year, Canadians will celebrate 60 years of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as Canada’s sovereign. In addition, 60,000 Canadians will be presented with the Diamond Jubilee medal in recognition of their contributions to their communities and country, or who have made achievements abroad that bring credit to Canada. Diamond Jubilee medals will be presented in the name of Her Majesty The Queen, reflecting her own tremendous record of service to Canada and to Canadians.
For only the second time in Canada’s history, Canadians will honour the 60-year reign of a Sovereign. Here, Her Majesty poses with the painted portrait of her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria, who celebrated her own Diamond Jubilee as Queen in 1897.
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