Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Quarterly Report - October to December 2019

The following is an overview of activities and programs undertaken by Her Honour, the Honourable Lois E. Mitchell from October to December 2019.

 

Alberta Order of Excellence Medals. AOE is part of the Canadian Honours System and is the highest honour the province has to offer. Public nominations are accepted
 

Honouring Service

Her Honour presented awards at more than a dozen ceremonies over the quarter to celebrate Albertans’ outstanding service and citizenship, including the:

• RCMP Long Service Awards (Oct. 2);

• IPAC Lieutenant Governor’s Award of Excellence (Oct. 11);

• The Alberta Order of Excellence Investiture (Oct. 17);

• The Lifesaving Society Investiture (Oct. 25);

• Rosza Awards for Arts Management (Oct. 28);

• Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers ceremonies in Calgary (Oct. 31) and Edmonton (Nov. 9);

• Royal Canadian Humane Association Bravery Awards (Nov. 8);

• Generosity of Spirit Awards (Nov 14); and

• Stars of Alberta Volunteer Awards (Dec 5).

 

The Lieutenant Governor joins dignitaries and students in placing poppies the graves of veterans at the annual No Stone Left Alone ceremony at Beechmont Cemetery in Edmonton.

Remembering Our Heroes

Lieutenant Governor Mitchell is deeply committed to recognizing the service and sacrifice of Canadians in uniform. Remembrance events began with the Royal Canadian Legion presenting Her Honour with the first poppy on October 16.

Other events included:

• The Homes For Heroes Grand Opening in Calgary (Oct 28);

• The inaugural Field of Crosses at Mount Royal University in Calgary (Oct. 29) as well as a Sunrise ceremony (Nov 1);

• The No Stone Left Alone ceremony in Edmonton (Nov 4) and Dance to Remember (Nov 9); and

• The annual Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Van Vliet Center in Edmonton (Nov 11).

 

 

 

 

Students from Glenora School joined Her Honour and special guests in planting commemorative tulip beds that will bloom at Government House.

Celebrating History and Education

The quarter featured a number of events to celebrate significant moments in our history and to encourage those who work to promote history education, including:

• The opening of a new gallery in honour Famous 5 Member Louise McKinney at the Claresholm & District Museum (Oct 5);

• Planting tulips gifted to Alberta by the Dutch Embassy in Canada to mark the upcoming 75th anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands; and

• The University of Calgary History Department Awards (Oct 28).

Other education-related events included installing the new   President of Red Deer College; celebrating the conclusion of Bow Valley College’s Quest for Best Campaign; and visiting with students from St. Martha School and St. John XXIII School as part of the School at the Legislature Program.

 

 

Her Honour tosses the coin to start the 107th Grey Cup at McMahon Stadium in Calgary.

Promoting Sport and Recreation

November offered an opportunity for Their Honours to show their great support for Canadian football as Calgary played host to the 107th Grey Cup. They took part in every aspect of the week-long celebration and hosted a special luncheon at McDougall Centre for the International Alliance of Gridiron Football. The week was topped off with Honour doing the coin toss to get the big game underway on November 24. Other sport and recreation-related events this quarter included the: 

• Calgary Celebration of Sport (Oct 3);

• Great Canadian Kitchen Parties is support of our Olympic athletes in Edmonton (Oct 10) and Calgary (Nov 7);  and

• The Alberta Recreation and Parks Association's Lieutenant Governor's Leadership for Active Communities Awards at Lake Louise (Oct 26).

 

 

New citizens celebrate joining the Canadian family at a special ceremony overlooking the Alberta Legislature on Oct 9.

Fostering Strong Citizenship and Celebrating Community

Her Honour administered the Oath of Citizenship and learned from new Canadians at an Institute for Canadian Citizenship roundtable and citizenship ceremony in Edmonton (Oct 9). She also hosted a special luncheon for participants in Legislative Assembly’s first annual Teachers Institute on Parliamentary Democracy (Nov 4). Other events to celebrate community spirit and foster global friendships included:

• A celebration of the University of Calgary’s Latin American Studies Program;

• A Diwali celebration in Edmonton;

• the Concordia University World Gala; and

• Holiday Light Up ceremonies at Ronald McDonald House and the Alberta Legislature.

 

 

Red Dress events build awareness and show support for families of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls.

Supporting Healing and Building Resilience

The Lieutenant Governor took part in numerous events throughout the fall focused on supporting healing and helping Albertans build resilience, including:

• A Sisters in Spirit Red Dress event in Calgary (Oct 4);

• An AHS Community Helpers Program Meeting (Oct 10);

• The Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital Courage Awards (Nov 6);

• The Salvation Army Hope in the City luncheon (Nov 14);

• The inaugural event in Calgary for the “With Her” program to end violence against women (Nov 15).

 

 

 

 

The ASTech Awards ceremony at SAIT in Calgary, Nov 1.

Recognizing Our Artists and Innovators

Her Honour is proud to support and promote Alberta’s and Canada’s leading artists and innovators at events such as the:

• Canadian Music Hall of Fame Investiture ceremony (Oct 27);

• Alberta Business Family Institute Dinner (Oct 28);

• ASTech Awards (Nov 1);

• Ambrose University Soul of the Next Economy Forum (Nov 15);

• Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 Prairie Celebration (Nov 19); and

• Art Gallery of Alberta Holly Ball in Edmonton (Dec 1).