Governor General gets warm welcome during first official visit to B.C.

Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General made her inaugural visit to B.C. Friday.

Mary Simon was welcomed by Premier John Horgan in Victoria on the legislative grounds.

“It is an honour to welcome Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General to our province on behalf of all British Columbians,” said Horgan. “Her Excellency is a true inspiration to Canadians, especially as we walk the path of meaningful reconciliation.”

Simon was welcomed by the Lekwungen traditional dancers from the Songhees Nation, and received a 21-gun salute from the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery.

As well, the Naden Band of Maritime Forces Pacific performed the Vice Regal Salute.

Horgan joined the Honourable Janet Austin, lieutenant governor of B.C., Chief Robert Thomas of Esquimalt Nation and Chief Ronald Sam of Songhees Nation to greet the Governor General.

#GGSimon will undertake an official visit to British Columbia from May 20 to 24, 2022.

To view the itinerary, visit: https://t.co/3nmAuPnIWe pic.twitter.com/pQKLqON1ks

— Governor General of Canada (@GGCanada) May 18, 2022

During the visit, Simon did an inspection of the Guard of Honour, made up of members from Maritime Forces Pacific and Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt.

After that, she signed distinguished visitors’ books inside the parliament buildings and met with Horgan.

A government statement said her visit “included a meeting with First Nations leaders and a tour of the Orange Shirt display that commemorates those affected by residential school experience and loss.”

Related link: Governor general to attend Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc memorial in Kamloops

As part of Simon’s B.C. trip, she will travel to Kamloops to mark one-year since the confirmation of unmarked graves at the former residential school site in the area.

Simon will meet Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir and others in the community “to pay their respects to the children left in unmarked graves and to the survivors of the residential school.”

“It’s our cultural tradition, after a year, to truly honour and reflect and look at the next chapters, and what that looks like towards healing,” Casimir said.

“We know that many will be travelling from all over Canada, as well as the United States, coming here to honour, reflect and to participate in these cultural protocols and those next steps.”

Monday’s ceremony in Kamloops by the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc will start at 5:00 a.m. and end at 7:00 p.m.

The Governor General will continue her visit and the itinerary can be found here.

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With files from Hana Mae Nassar