FOR THE RECORD:
THE QUEEN MOTHER'S CANADIAN ASSOCIATIONS
compiled by Arthur Bousfield, Vice-Chairman, The Monarchist League of Canada

OFFICIAL POSITIONS

  • Duchess of York (as wife of Duke of York, 2nd in line to the Throne) 1923-1936
  • Queen Consort (as "Queen Elizabeth" wife of King George VI) 1936-1952
  • Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother 1952-present
  • Colonel-in-Chief, Toronto Scottish Regiment 1937-present
  • Colonel-in-Chief, Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment of Canada) 1947-present
  • Colonel-in-Chief, Canadian Forces Medical Services 1977-present
  • Is now the longest serving Colonel-in-Chief in the history of the Canadian Forces
  • Grand President, Victorian Order of Nurses, 1955-present
  • Patron, Women's College Hospital 1964-present (Now Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre)
  • Patron, Ontario Jockey Club 1986-present

    CANADIAN TOURS

    1939 May-June cross-country and back with her husband King George VI. This tour provided Canada with one of the greatest demonstrations of national unity in its history

    1954 November Ottawa/Hull for Remembrance Day

    1962 June Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Morrisburg, St Lawrence Seaway, Trenton, Port Hope

    1965 June Toronto, Port Hope, Oshawa

    1966 March Vancouver, Victoria

    1966 May Vancouver (2nd visit)

    1967 July Centenary of Confederation tour of 4 Atlantic provinces

    1974 June-July Dominion Day, Toronto

    1979 June-July Dominion Day, Halifax, Toronto

    1981 July Niagara-on-the-Lake, Toronto

    1985 July Toronto, Regina, Edmonton

    1987 June Ottawa, Montreal

    1989 July LAST VISIT: Ottawa, Toronto, London, Ont.

    QUEEN'S PLATE

    The Queen Mother holds the record for having made the presentation of the Queen's Plate, the purse given to the owner of the winning horse in Canada's most famous horse racing event, more than anyone else: 1939 (with King George VI), 1962, 1965, 1974, 1979, 1981, 1985, 1989

    OTHER MILESTONES

    1939 Laid the cornerstone of the Supreme Court of Canada building, Ottawa

    1939 Began the first Royal "walkabout" at War Memorial, Ottawa, when she and the King plunged unattended into a dense crowd of veterans

    1954 Made Royal aviation history by choosing a Trans-Canada Airlines commercial aircraft on a routine flight for crossing the Atlantic

    1957 Popularity in Canada is so great that Buckingham Palace has to issue an official denial of report that she is going to accept the post of Governor General of Canada

    1967 First member of the Royal Family to receive Hon. LL.D. from Dalhousie University, Halifax

    OTHER ASSOCIATIONS

  • Queen Elizabeth Way (Niagara to Toronto), Canada's first dual highway, named for and opened by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who in 1989 also unveiled a plaque marking its 50th anniversary

  • Hopital Reine Elizabeth/Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Montreal, named for Queen Mother

  • Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Toronto, 1940-1998, named for Queen Mother

    SOME EVENTS AT WHICH THE QUEEN MOTHER HAS OFFICIATED

    1940 Opened (together with the King) Beaver Club, Spring Garden, London, UK, for Canadian service personnel

    1940 Visited Canadian Division at Aldershot

    1944 Inspected Canadian troops preparing to take part in D-Day landings

    1954 Opened Bytown Bridges at mouth of Rideau River, Ottawa

    1954 Re-designated Canal Road as Colonel By Drive, Ottawa

    1962 President at Annual Meeting of VON, Rideau Hall

    1962 Presented new colours to Toronto Scottish Regiment

    1966 Laid cornerstone of what is now Royal British Columbia Museum

    1967 Opened Richmond Centennial Park, Saint John, NB

    1967 Opened Sir Charles Tupper Building, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS

    1967 Opened Highland Games, Antigonish, NS

    1967 Opened Charlottetown Provincial Administrative Building Complex

    1974 Presented new Queen's Colour to Toronto Scottish Regiment

    1974 Opened historic Campbell House, Toronto

    1979 Presented new Queen's Colour to Maritime Command, Halifax

    1982 Opened exhibition "Canadian Art in Britain," Canada House, London

    1985 Presented Banner to Canadian Forces Medical Service

    1985 Opened 5th Aberdeen Angus World Forum, Edmonton

    1987 Presided at Canada Day celebrations, Buckingham Palace

    1989 Opened Western Counties Wing, Parkwood Hospital, London, Ont.

    1989 Opened Sir Frederick G. Banting Square and unveiled Banting statue, London, Ont.

    SOME QUOTATIONS...

    Ottawa, 1939 "I am happy to lay the foundation stone of a building [Supreme Court] devoted to the administration of justice in this great Dominion. Perhaps it is not inappropriate that this task should be performed by a woman; for woman's position in civilized society has depended upon the growth of law."

    Toronto, 1979 "Forty years ago, when I first came here with the King ­ a few months before the outbreak of war ­ I did fall in love with Canada, and my affection has grown with each succeeding visit."

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    This page was last updated at 7:00 AM on 09/01/00 by J.W.R.V.