The Honourable Monique Smith, MPP for Nipissing and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs had the opportunity to host an event for Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh at Queen’s Park during the Queen’s 22nd tour of Canada.
Premier Dalton McGuinty and the Hon. Monique Smith joined the Royal Couple and the Lieutenant Governor to honour community volunteers, those who have worked to strengthen our communities and who have made the province a better place to live.
Minister Smith invited a group of Nipissing residents to join in this special occasion. They included:
· Anita Spalding, 30 year volunteer with the Canadian Cancer Society, volunteer with the North East Mental Health Centre, 25 year member of the Dr. Herbert A. Bruce Chapter I.O.D.E.
· Bill and Madeleine Eisen, volunteers with Branch 23 of the Royal Canadian Legion in North Bay, volunteers with the North East Mental Health Centre
· Jack Burrows, former Mayor of North Bay, Founder of the North Bay Community Foundation and longtime Rotarian
· Marguerite Martel, volunteer, longtime francophone educator and advocate, founding member of Les Compagnons des francs loisirs
· Mary-Lou Rainville, Board Member for One Kids Place, Mattawa Lions Club member and former principal of F.J. McElligott Secondary School in Mattawa
· George Onley, Navy Veteran, Pipe Band member with Branch 445 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Callander
· Lana Mitchell, Executive Director of Low Income People Involvement
· Jim Marmino, longtime volunteer with the Davedi Club in North Bay
· Mackenzie Willis, Grade 8 student at W.J. Fricker Senior Public School, Youth Advisor for the World Clean Air Forest Initiative
Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration has also invited Marla Tremblay, Ann Welsh and Karen Strang, executive members of the North Bay Newcomer Network to be recognized at the ceremony.
Following her visit to the Legislative Building, The Queen went on a walkabout. The Queen inspected four Canadian regiments and was honoured with a 21-gun salute during her official farewell to Canada.
“I was delighted that I was able to share this wonderful occasion with this deserving group of individuals from our community,” said MPP Smith. “These individuals represent decades of volunteerism and the best of what our community represents.”
“By serving others, Ontarians honour one another. The Queen and Prince Philip have seen the best of our province over the last few days. We hope they fondly remember their visit for years to come,” said Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario.
The Queen’s dedication to service can inspire us to become more active participants wherever we live and in whatever way we consider appropriate.