The Unofficial British Royal Family Pages

Speeches made by The Queen on her Royal visit to Canada, May 2005

Speech given by The Queen at the Alberta farewell dinner, 24 May 2005, Canada

Prime Minister, Premier, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to express my appreciation to you, Prime Minister, for your warm words and I would also like to thank the people of Alberta for inviting Prince Philip and me to be part of their Centenary festivities. It is a great pleasure for us both to be back here in Western Canada.

The story of Alberta mirrors in many ways the history of the country as a whole and you can be deservedly proud of the many successes of the past century. Indeed the story of Canada is not unlike the topography of Western Canada � opportunities as vast as the seemingly endless prairies and as exciting as the rolling foothills and soaring Rockies. Yet opportunities are meaningless if not for the dreams and the drive of men and women who work to make this land a special haven like no other.

Over the past eight days, Prince Philip and I have met hundreds of such Canadians in both Alberta and Saskatchewan. We have both much enjoyed the chance to meet veterans, First Nations members, and men and women from all branches of the Canadian Forces.

We particularly appreciated the opportunity to pay tribute to the outstanding men and women of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. We have talked to volunteers, children and working people of all ages. As in all our visits over the past 54 years, Canadians � both young, and young at heart � have welcomed us and have been our generous hosts.

And as in all our visits down the years, whether watching a chuck wagon race at the Calgary Stampede or athletic prowess at the Montreal Olympics, whether listening to an Inuit song of greeting in Nunavut or the skirl of pipes in Nova Scotia, I have always felt not only welcome but at home in Canada.

Of course the relationship between Crown and Canada evolves with the times - as it should. But I for one can sense the continuity; it seems to me like yesterday that small girls offered me flowers on my first visit fifty-four years ago, yet today, I suspect, it is their grandchildren who are presenting the bouquets.

Prime Minister, you have spoken of my role and that of the Crown in Canada. I would like to add that this country and Canadians everywhere have been a constant presence in my life and work, and I have so many vivid memories and a tremendous sense of pride in being part of the Canadian family. This is a relationship I have come to treasure and a country for which I have a deep and abiding affection.

As Queen of Canada, I have had the privilege of speaking to you on numerous occasions since my first visit in 1951. In doing so, I have attempted to convey the admiration and optimism I feel for this land and her diverse people.

Your enduring ties to the Crown stand not only for a respect for heritage, but also for the principles of peace, order and good government developed by the Fathers of Confederation who envisaged and worked so diligently to make this country a reality.

These nation builders entrusted these principles to us and we do well to remember this as we dedicate ourselves to building a better future for the people of this great country.

Que Dieu b�nisse le Canada; May God bless Canada.

Speech given by The Queen at the Alberta legislature, 24 May 2005, Canada

Prince Philip and I are very pleased to be back in Alberta in this Centennial year as you celebrate not only your historic past, but also the dynamism of your community today as well as the great opportunities that lie ahead.

When looking back on the story of Alberta, we see it extend well before 1905. It is indeed the story of Canada. Your First Nations peoples inhabited the prairies over ten thousand years ago, living in harmony with nature - then as they do now. By the 1800's, these first citizens, along with the M�tis, were joined by explorers, homesteaders, and railway workers from all over the world.

They had a dream to build homes in a land where freedom reigned. They created a spirit of belonging to a bountiful country under the principles of "peace, order, and good government" and the unifying influence of the Crown. It is a fitting homage to these ancestors that your motto is Fortis et Liber...Strong and Free.

I am pleased to learn that the provincial government is marking this milestone year with its Centennial Legacy Program. It is investing in parks, historical sites and recreational facilities all across Alberta.

These exciting projects reflect the importance that Albertans place on your excellent quality of life, your positive economic outlook, and your success in agriculture, energy and industry. They also reflect the gratitude you feel towards generations of elders and forebears whose hard work built the Alberta of today.

Among the early settlers who came here so many decades ago to build a new life, there were thousands of families with children who were themselves destined to become the nation builders of the future. Today I am speaking on air across the province, including schools in communities from Lethbridge to Fort Vermillion, from Wainwright to Grande Cache.

Just half an hour ago, at the provincial museum, now called The Royal Alberta Museum, I enjoyed the opportunity to meet some of the young people of Alberta who were touring that showcase of living heritage. I hope that all young people in the province will take the opportunity of the Centennial to learn of the way in which their own communities have flourished over the last hundred years.

While all Albertans � and all Canadians � value this history as a colourful account of the past, we also view it as a foundation for our present and future. During this visit, as we honour the spirit of those who built this great nation, it is timely to remind ourselves that we can indeed make a difference for those who will in turn come after us. If we strive, in our own lives and our own way, to leave the world around us a little better than we have found it and to maintain the highest standards in everything we do, we can legitimately take pride in our contribution.

During a previous visit 32 years ago I said that "... I want the Crown in Canada to represent everything that is best and most admired in the Canadian ideal. I will continue to do my best to make it so during my lifetime, and I hope you will all continue to give me your help in this task." I would like to repeat those words today as, together, we continue to build a country that remains the envy of the world.

May God bless you on this happy hundredth birthday, and I send to you all my warmest good wishes for the years to come.

Speech given by The Queen at the Saskatchewan federal lunch on 20 May 2005

Minister, Premier, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you, Minister, and all of you who have welcomed our return to Regina as we celebrate this Saskatchewan Centennial year. 

During this anniversary, as we pay tribute to those who have made Saskatchewan what it is today, I recall with pleasure being greeted by Premier Tommy Douglas on my first visit to Regina in 1951.  In a lifetime of most remarkable service - first to province and later to country - Premier Douglas brought social consciousness to life in the policies that directly affected the lives of Canadians.

Such service to others reflects so much of what your grandparents and great grandparents dreamed of when Saskatchewan first became a province of the Dominion of Canada in 1905.  These men and women did not simply hope for a brighter future; they devoted every day to achieving their vision, not so much for themselves but for their children, and their grandchildren - for everyone.

During the past four days, Prince Philip and I have caught glimpses of your ancestors' dreams that have been brought to life, not by accident but through determination, perseverance and hard work.  Whether in rural settings, towns or cities, we have met citizens of Saskatchewan, of many diverse backgrounds, who are united in their desire to continue to build a society that will remain the envy of the world.

We have constantly been reminded that here in Western Canada, peoples from around the world have come together to add their own richness to the vast, colourful tapestry that is only matched by the size and beauty of the country itself. The spirit of nation building here in Saskatchewan and Canada truly falls on fertile soil.  With this spirit the promise of the future is boundless. 

I am delighted to be with you as your Queen to celebrate this special anniversary.  I retain a deep affection for this great country and for the people who take such pride in saying "I am Canadian".  May the people of Saskatchewan and indeed all Canadians continue to enjoy, in the words of your first Premier, Walter Scott, "peace, progress and prosperity" as together we face the many challenges and opportunities that lie before us all.

Speech given by The Queen at the Saskatchewan Legislature on 18 May 2005

Prime Minister and Premier, Ladies and Gentlemen

Thank you for welcoming Prince Philip and me so warmly to Canada and to Saskatchewan.  We would like in turn to send a message of greetings to you all as we come together to celebrate the Centennials of both Saskatchewan and Alberta.

May I also express my appreciation to you, Prime Minister, for the gift you have offered to mark my visit. The "Memory Project" has most successfully brought together veterans and young Canadians throughout the country. In the process it has safeguarded not only many remarkable stories of the veterans, but also a unique chapter of this country's history.  It is a most imaginative gift; it links the admiration I have for those who fought for freedom all those years ago with the confidence and pride I feel when I look into the faces of young Canadians today.

It fits well with the theme chosen for this visit, to acknowledge "The Spirit of Nation Builders." And what better place could there be than the vast Canadian prairies to pay homage to those ancestors, beginning with the First Nations and Metis Peoples, who shaped the country with a common vision and with a determination to build a better life for themselves, and a better country for their children and grandchildren.

This is my twenty-second journey to Canada, but the memories of my first visit are still fresh in my mind. I remember the magnitude of this country, matched only by the generosity and kindness of the people whom I met along the way, not least here.   Since then, Prince Philip and I have seen Saskatchewan evolve into a forward-looking province of fertile landscapes, dynamic towns and cities with expanding, diverse communities taking great pride in what you have built - and continue to build - together. 

May I take this opportunity to salute an exceptional group of people who have been with me on all my visits � the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.  While the scarlet tunic of the Mountie has come to symbolise Canada throughout the world, it is the Mountie's dedication to service and honour that embodies the spirit of so many of those who have built this nation as we now know it.  Tomorrow, Prince Philip and I will attend a memorial service at Depot Division here in Regina.  Along with all Canadians, we will pay tribute to the four courageous members of the Force who died in the line of duty last March.

Today, there will be a happier event to mark, thanks once again to the men and women of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.  In 1969, they gave me a most generous gift � a black mare named Burmese whom I rode for eighteen years.  It will give me great pleasure to unveil a statue of Burmese here outside the Legislature to mark this Centennial. 

When we were last here in 1987, I spoke of the Crown in the daily life of Canada, of my role as your Queen and my bond with this land and its people. I spoke then as much to the youth of Saskatchewan as to their parents and grandparents.  Just eighteen years later I am pleased to learn that some of those young people whom I addressed then are now active in shaping the life of this province in the twenty-first century.  From their ranks are coming some of the dynamic leaders of every profession who are placing Saskatchewan so firmly on the national and global stage.
 
 Premier, you have noted the role of the Crown as a symbol of national identity for Canada and Saskatchewan. To others, one of the strongest and most valued assets of the Crown is the stability and continuity it can bring from the past into the present.   My mother once said that this country felt like a "home away from home" for the Queen of Canada.  Ladies and gentlemen, six decades later it still does.... and it is good to be back.

May God continue to bless Saskatchewan.   Et que Dieu b�nisse le Canada.