Governor General to Visit Communities in the Hudson Bay Region

OTTAWA, May 3, 2016 /CNW/ - Their Excellencies the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and Mrs. Sharon Johnston will visit the following communities in northern Manitoba, Nunavut and Nunavik (Quebec) from May 4 to 10, 2016: Churchill, Arviat, Chesterfield Inlet, Rankin Inlet, Coral Harbour, Cape Dorset, Salluit and Kuujjuaraapik.

"This visit to the North will take my wife, Sharon, and me to a number of communities located around the shores of Hudson Bay," the Governor General said. "We're very much looking forward to meeting with families, community leaders and researchers and to hearing their stories about life and learning in this vast, important part of Canada."

In each community, Their Excellencies will meet with local government representatives, community members, as well as with Canadian Rangers and Junior Rangers to thank them for their work and service. This visit will provide Their Excellencies with a greater understanding of daily life in these remote regions and will highlight the numerous successful initiatives in place to overcome local and regional challenges. This will be the first time a Canadian governor general visits Arviat, Chesterfield Inlet, Coral Harbour, Salluit and Kuujjuaraapik.

Churchill, Manitoba
Wednesday, May 4

Upon arrival, Their Excellencies will meet with His Worship Michael Spence, Mayor of Churchill, and with the Council members. Their Excellencies will then visit the Town Centre Complex, where all public services are housed, in order to meet with employees and students.

In the afternoon, Their Excellencies will participate in a community gathering, followed by a tour of the Eskimo Museum to see its collection of Inuit carvings and artifacts from the Inuit, Cree, Dene and Métis people who first settled in this Arctic community. They will then visit the Parks Canada Interpretation Centre, which is housed in the historic Churchill train station, to learn about its role and operations in the region.

Before leaving, they will visit the Churchill Northern Studies Centre to discuss the research that is currently being conducted in the Hudson Bay area.

Arviat, Nunavut
Thursday, May 5

Their Excellencies will meet with the Honourable Nellie Taptaqut Kusugak, Commissioner of Nunavut, with His Worship Robert Leonard, Mayor of Arviat, and with Council members. Later, they will visit the John Arnalukjuak High School to meet with students and teachers to discuss bullying and suicide. The Governor General will take this opportunity to present the Governor General's Academic Medal (Bronze) to Shelby Angalik, a student who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement. This will be followed by remarks to the students on the importance of education.

In the afternoon, Their Excellencies will visit the Early Childhood Daycare to learn about the Aboriginal Head Start (Healthy Babies & Healthy Moms) program. Afterwards, Their Excellencies will join participants of the Arviat Young Hunters program in an igloo workshop, and meet with Elders to discuss the importance of intergenerational knowledge sharing. In the evening, Their Excellencies will meet with the community members and learn about the Arviammiut local culture and traditions.

Chesterfield Inlet, Nunavut
Friday, May 6

Their Excellencies will be welcomed by His Worship Barney Aggark, Mayor of Chesterfield Inlet, and with Council members, and learn about the oldest permanent settlement in the Canadian Arctic and its community initiatives. Afterwards, Their Excellencies will attend a community gathering to see a demonstration of traditional Inuit games. In the afternoon, Their Excellencies will visit the Naja Isabelle Group Home, a territorial facility intended to serve people with disabilities. Here, they will participate in a discussion on health services with employees and representatives of the Pimakslirvik Corporation.

Rankin Inlet, Nunavut
Friday, May 6

Upon their arrival in Rankin Inlet, Their Excellencies will meet with His Worship Robert Janes, Mayor of Rankin Inlet, and with Council members, to discuss matters related to the local economy, entrepreneurship and the modern community.

Coral Harbour, Nunavut
Saturday, May 7

Their Excellencies will attend a gathering hosted by the Hamlet of Coral Harbour. Later, they will meet with His Worship Jackie Netser, Mayor of Coral Harbour, to learn about the history of the area and how it is becoming a popular ecotourism base for walrus and polar bear watching.

Cape Dorset, Nunavut
Sunday, May 8

Upon arrival in Cape Dorset, the art capital of the North, Their Excellencies will travel to a fishing camp in the tundra to meet with His Worship Padlaya Qiatsuk, Mayor of Cape Dorset, and with a group of Elders. Afterwards, Their Excellencies will attend a community feast to experience local traditions. In the afternoon, they will visit the Kinngait Studio / West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative and learn about the new Kenojuak Cultural Centre and Print Shop. In the evening, they will attend the Full Gospel Church for a worship service.

Salluit, Nunavik, Quebec
Monday, May 9

Their Excellencies will be welcomed by His Worship Paulusie Saviadjuk, Mayor of Salluit, and with Council members and representatives of the Makivik Corporation, the Kativik Regional government and the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services. Later, Their Excellencies will visit the Iqaliarsarvik Fitness Centre to speak with young athletes on how physical activity is beneficial to their lives. In the afternoon, Their Excellencies will attend a student assembly at the Ikusik School during which students' accomplishments will be showcased. The Governor General will also take questions from the students. Their Excellencies will then depart to visit the Raglan Mine.

Kuujjuaraapik, Nunavik, Quebec
Tuesday, May 10

Their Excellencies will have a meeting with His Worship Lucassie Inukpuk, Mayor of Kuujjuaraapik; with Chief Louisa Mamianskum Wynne, Chief of the Whapmagoostui First Nation; and with Mr. John Shem, Deputy Chief, as well as with Council members. Later, they will learn about  Pivallianiq's various programs and how the organization raises awareness to preserve the homes and communities of Nunavik. Their Excellencies will also take part in a nanuk workshop with students from the Asimauttaq School.

In the afternoon, Their Excellencies will visit the Tasiurvik Kuujjuaraapik Family House and take part in a cooking class. Next, they will visit the Centre d'études Nordique's Whapmagoostui-Kuujjuaraapik Research Complex to learn about its various research projects and to see how the centre shares knowledge with the local and scientific communities.

This itinerary is subject to change without notice.
To obtain the latest updates, please visit www.gg.ca.

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SOURCE Governor General of Canada

For further information: Josephine Laframboise, Rideau Hall Press Office, 613-990-9324, 613-668-1929 (cell), [email protected]