Today, Canada’s 29th Governor General, Julie Payette will be sworn in with a ceremony mixed from “old and new traditions”.
The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, invited the public to come down to Parliament Hill to take part in the event or watch live online or television.
Traditional components will include “the swearing-in ceremony, the presentation of Canadian Honours and the Great Seal of Canada, and full military honours.” An inspection of the Guard of Honour and an address by the newly formed Governor General Julie Payette will also take place topped off by an Indigenous performance and performances by Florent Vollant, Joannie Benoit and Melissa Bédard, and Quartom.
From the swearing-in ceremony, Julie Payette will perform her first act as Governor General and Commander-in-Cheif of Canada by walking from Parliament Hill to the National War Memorial to lay flowers in respect of Canada’s fallen soldiers.
This will be the first time the event will be broadcast both on television and live-streamed on the Canadian Heritage Facebook page.
The Honourable Mélanie Joly released a statement via press release about today, saying: “Astronaut, engineer, scientist, businesswoman, proud Canadian: these are just some of the words that describe Julie Payette. Over her lifetime, Ms. Payette has represented Canada with pride, and will continue to do so in her new role as the 29th Governor General of Canada. I invite all Canadians to join us on October 2, 2017, for this exciting installation ceremony.”
On 20 September, Julie Payette travelled to Balmoral Castle where she met The Queen. Later the same day she met with Prince Charles.
On the advice of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Her Majesty appointed Julie Payette as the new Governor General. She has been bestowed with many honours, including Extraordinary Companion of the Order of Canada.
What a great Governor General for Canada. An accomplished woman, an Astronaut, for goodness sake!
Someone who will surely be admired, respected and even loved by every Canadian.
Contrast that with the alternative proposed by a small number of troublemakers. You could end up with a political president, hated by half the population.