OTTAWA,
ON, March 28, 2024 /CNW/ - Their Excellencies
the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, and Mr. Whit
Fraser will undertake an official visit to Nunavut from April 1 to
4, 2024, where they will mark the territory's
25th anniversary.
In Iqaluit, Kimmirut and Qikiqtarjuaq, the Governor General will meet
with territorial dignitaries, municipal leaders, Elders and
youth.
As she visits these communities, the Governor General will bring
awareness to issues of significance in Nunavut and across Canada, including climate change, mental
health, cultural preservation and education. Her meetings with
Nunavummiut will also offer opportunities to shine a light on
inspiring change agents and underscore the innovative and resilient
spirit of Canadians.
By visiting communities throughout Canada and exchanging with people from all
walks of life, the Governor General creates bridges between the
different realities of Canadians from coast to coast to coast.
Itinerary:
Note: Times are indicated in
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
Iqaluit, Nunavut
Monday, April 1
11:30 a.m.
Official Welcoming
Ceremony
Their Excellencies will arrive at the Legislative Assembly, where
they will be greeted by the Honourable
Eva Qamaniq Aariak, Commissioner of Nunavut and the Honourable
P. J. Akeeagok, Premier of Nunavut, as well as by other dignitaries.
Legislative AssemblyOPEN TO MEDIA
Media
Contacts: Casey Lessard, Government of Nunavut, 867-223-0422, clessard2@gov.nu.ca;
Sima Sahar Zerehi, Office of Premier
P. J. Akeeagok, 867‑222‑5344,
SZerehi6@gov.nu.ca
12:00 p.m.
Courtesy call with the Commissioner
of Nunavut
The Governor
General will meet with the Honourable Eva Qamaniq Aariak,
Commissioner of Nunavut.
Legislative Assembly
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY – At the start
of the meeting
Media Contact: Wende Halonen,
867-222-0104, whalonen@gov.nu.ca
12:30 p.m.
Courtesy call with the Premier of
Nunavut
The Governor
General will meet with the Honourable P. J. Akeeagok,
Premier of Nunavut.
Legislative Assembly
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY – At the start
of the meeting
Media Contact: Casey Lessard,
Government of Nunavut,
867-223-0422, clessard2@gov.nu.ca; Sima
Sahar Zerehi, Office of Premier P.
J. Akeeagok, 867‑222‑5344, SZerehi6@gov.nu.ca
5 p.m.
Community celebration to mark the
25th anniversary of the creation of Nunavut
The Governor General will join
Nunavummiut in marking the territory's 25th anniversary
at a community celebration. She will deliver remarks at the
beginning of the event.
Aqsarniit Hotel and Conference Centre
OPEN TO
MEDIA
Media Contact: Casey Lessard, Government
of Nunavut, 867-223-0422,
clessard2@gov.nu.ca; Sima Sahar
Zerehi, Office of Premier P. J.
Akeeagok, 867‑222‑5344, SZerehi6@gov.nu.ca
Kimmirut, Nunavut
Tuesday, April 2
10:45 a.m.
Visit to the community of
Kimmirut
The Governor
General will travel to Kimmirut
and visit Qaqqalik School, where students will present a
performance. The school welcomes students from kindergarten through
grade 12. The community will then gather in the school's
gymnasium to celebrate Hamlet Day. Hamlet Day is traditionally
observed on April 1, in Kimmirut, but the celebrations were postponed
due to Easter Monday.
Qaqqalik School
OPEN TO MEDIA
Media
Contact: John Stephen Mabberi-Mudonyi, Hamlet of Kimmirut, 867-523-0110, cao@kimmirut.ca;
Gerald Blanchard, Qaqqalik School,
GBlanchard1@gov.nu.ca
Iqaluit, Nunavut
3:30 p.m.
Visit to the Pirurvik
Centre
The Governor General will visit the Pirurvik Centre
where she will meet with students, former students and staff
members. The centre offers an array of training programs that
strive to meet the needs of Nunavummiut, transmit Inuit knowledge
and bolster Inuit identity.
Learn more about the Pirurvik Centre
611 Queen Elizabeth Way,
Iqaluit
OPEN TO
MEDIA
Media contact: Paul
Salter, paul@pirurvik.ca
Wednesday, April 3
9:30 a.m.
Visit to
Ilitaqsiniq
The Governor General will meet with knowledge
keepers and members of the staff of Ilitaqsiniq, who will speak
about their programming and "Inu-vative" approach. The organization
offers a vast suite of culture-based learning programs tailored for
Nunavummiut and for workplaces operating in Nunavut.
2552 Paurngaq Cres., Iqaluit
Learn more about
Ilitaqsiniq
OPEN TO MEDIA
Media contact: Adriana Kusugak,
867-446-4615, adrianakusugak@Ilitaqsiniq.ca
10:30
Meeting with members of the Qajakkut Society
and the Inuit Heritage Trust
The Governor General will meet
with some of the founders of the Qajakkut Society to learn about
their efforts to reclaim and disseminate qajaq
(kayak)-building knowledge throughout Nunavut. She will also have an opportunity to
discover some of the Inuit Heritage Trust's ongoing work to
preserve and revitalize Inuit cultural heritage in Nunavut.
2425 Abe Okpik Cres.,
Iqaluit
Learn more about
the Inuit Heritage Trust
OPEN TO MEDIA
Media contact: William Beveridge, 867-979-0731,
wbeveridge@ihti.ca
11:30 a.m.
Visit to the Qajuqturvik Community
Food Centre
The Governor General will visit the Qajuqturvik
Community Food Centre where she will engage with residents of
Iqaluit during the community meal.
The organization helps increase food access and disseminates
knowledge about food. Their programs also strive to create
relationships between community members.
Learn more about the Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre
OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHERS ONLY
2:30 p.m.
Knowledge-sharing session with youth
on climate change
The Governor General will meet with young
Nunavummiut to listen to their perspectives on and concerns about
climate change. The group comprises members of Nunavut's Climate Change Youth Advisory
Committee, graduating students from the Environmental Technology
Program at the Nunavut Arctic College, and students from the Green
Club at Inuksuk High School.
Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park Pavilion
PHOTO
OPPORTUNITY – Before the start of the discussion
Media
contact: Lekon Thomas, 867-975-7761, LThomas8@gov.nu.ca
4 p.m.
Visit to the Elders' Qammaq
The
Governor General will exchange stories with Elders over tea at the
Elders' Qammaq.
OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHERS ONLY
Qikiqtarjuaq,
Nunavut
Thursday, April 4
11 a.m.
Community gathering
The
Governor General will meet and converse with residents of
Qikiqtarjuaq, including Elders,
hunters, seamstresses, carvers, search and rescue volunteers, and
Canadian Rangers.
Avviujaq Hamlet Building
OPEN MEDIA
Media
contact: Geela Kooneeliuse, 867-222-4401
1:15 p.m.
Visit to Inuksuit School
The
Governor General will meet with students at the Inuksuit School,
which welcomes students from Kindergarten to grade 12. She
will engage with students on one of the eight Inuit societal
values, specifically Avatittinnik Kamatsiarniq (respect and care
for the land, animals and the environment). She will also share her
perspective on the value of education, and visit the workshop to
speak with students about the qamutik (sled) they have
built.
Inuksuit School
OPEN TO MEDIA
Media
contact: George McEwan, 867-927-8938,
gmcewan@gov.nu.ca
Quick facts
- This will be Governor General Simon's first official visit to
Nunavut.
- Governor General Simon travelled to Iqaluit in July
2022, to hear His Holiness Pope Francis address to members
of the community following a meeting with residential school
survivors, and to participate in his farewell ceremony.
- This visit is part of a larger objective of visiting each
province and territory to engage with Canadians from across the
country.
Notes for media
- Members of the media must confirm their attendance at select
events with the media contacts listed above.
- Photos of the visit can be provided to media upon request via
media@gg.ca.
Stay connected:
Follow GovernorGeneralCanada on
Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
SOURCE Governor General of Canada