Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall arrived at the Saskatchewan Legislative Building on Wednesday, May 23, greeted by the Premier of Saskatchewan, the Honourable Brad Wall and his daughter Ms. Megan Wall.
Premier Wall then presented the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the Honourable Dan D’Autremont and Ms. Amanda D’Autremont, and Leader of the Official Opposition, Mr. John Nilson and Dr. Linda Lee Nilson.
Inside the Chamber, Premier Wall provided brief remarks and gave a gift from the province in two parts. One part is in honor of the visit of Their Royal Highnesses to Saskatchewan and the Duchess’s first visit to Saskatchewan, the Government will rename the “The Prince of Wales Scholarship” as “The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall Scholarship”. The second part of the gift is the creation of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Scholarship to assist grade 12 students in Community High Schools to carry on in post-secondary education.
Speaker D’Autremont then offered welcome remarks and The Prince of Wales presented six Saskatchewan residents with commemorative Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals, honouring significant contributions by Canadains.
In addition to the recipients, 30 youth nominees for the medal attended the ceremonies in the chamber. Following the medal presentation, His Royal Highness gave a gift to Speaker D’Autremont of wood from the Duchy of Cornwall, which will be crafted in to Saskatchewan’s Black Rod, to be used in special ceremonies including visits of the Crown to the province’s Legislative Assembly.
Their Royal Highnesses then viewed artifacts from the Legislative Building’s 100 Year Time Capsule in the Legislative Library, signed the Legislative Assembly and Provincial Guest and met with many of the youth Jubilee medal nominees in the rotunda. His Royal Highness unveiled a plaque, commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Legislative Building and Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee.
Later, Their Royal Highnesses were greeted at Government House by Saskatchewan Lieutenant Governor, Her Honour the Honourable Vaughn Solomon Schofield and His Honour Gordon Schofield where they toured a new exhibit.
Palace to Prairie explores Saskatchewan’s connection to The Crown and features an interactive display table and seven stations with a number of artifacts and information about each of The Queen’s six visits to Saskatchewan as well as her coronation.
After the exhibit, Their Royal Highnesses were accompanied as they walked through the Herb Garden at Government House.
In the afternoon, Their Royal Highnesses arrived at First Nations University of Canada where they were greeted by the Minister of First Nations and Métis Relations, the Honourable Ken Cheveldayoff, and Mrs. Trish Cheveldayoff. While on the way to the entrance, the official party paused to listen to the Drum Group perform Honour Song.
Their Royal Highnesses met with First Nations and Métis youth representatives, on a variety of topics, including; job opportunities and skills training, education and economic development. Their Royal Highnesses viewed student artwork, and then took part in an informal roundtable discussion in the Library with First Nations and Métis representatives.
Their Royal Highnesses then signed the First Nations University guest book, and as they departed, the Drum group performed Thank You song, just outside the building.
His Royal Highness then visited Ground Effects Environmental Services, a company that specializes in designing and manufacturing environmentally sustainable technology to cleanse contaminated soil and water.
Afterwards, His Royal Highness met privately with the Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, then with The Governor General of Canada, His Excellency David Johnston. Following those private audiences, Their Royal Highnesses attended a Government of Canada hosted concert by the Regina Symphony Orchestra at the RCMP Depot Drill Hall, in honour of the 2012 Royal Tour of Their Royal Highnesses to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen.
The Royal Tour of Regina concluded with the departure of Their Royal Highnesses at Regina International Airport, amid full military honours.
