Pincher Creek Voice: Queen Elizabeth's record reign celebrated at KBPV

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Queen Elizabeth's record reign celebrated at KBPV

HRH Queen Elizabeth II waves from palace balcony after June 2, 1953 Coronation

Photo courtesy National Media Museum from UK via Wikimedia Commons

Official portrait of HRH Queen Elizabeth II, July 2015
Mary McCartney photo

Toni Lucas

Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village (KBPV) was the site of a Monarchist tea on Wednesday, September 9. The event was one of over 100 celebrations across Canada to mark the longest reign in modern British Commonwealth history, Queen Elizabeth II who has ruled from February 6, 1952 to the present. On this day she surpassed the length of the reign of Queen Victoria, her great grandmother, who ruled the British Empire for 63 years, 216 days.

Held in partnership with KBPV, the Town of Pincher Creek, and the Monarchist League of Canada, the event was attended by approximately 20 people. Even though the turnout was small the people who attended seemed moved by the event. Town of Pincher Creek Marketing, Events and Economic Development Officer Marie Everts acted as the Emcee, and hostess. She introduced Mayor Don Anderberg and Padre Reverend Dave Goff. Padre Goff said a moving prayer for Queen Elizabeth. Everyone who attended was invited to sing 'God Save the Queen' and participate in an Allegiance to the Queen reaffirmation ceremony. After the ceremonies everyone was invited to have tea and cookies.

Padre Goff, Mayor Anderberg, and Marie Everts singing God Save the Queen

Mayor Anderberg's speech is included in entirety below.

Pincher Creek Mayor Don Anderberg

Pincher Creek Mayor Don Anderberg

We are gathered today to mark The Queen’s reign as Monarch of Canada having become the longest in modern history. With each other, our fellow Canadians and many people throughout the Commonwealth, we honour a Monarch who embodies the Canadian state, and a woman of faith and principle whom we deeply admire.

As our Monarch, The Queen is part of Parliament, ensuring that we are a nation governed by law and not by the whims of a dictator, nor even of an elected leader subject to the shifting sands of popularity: for their power is lent by the Crown on behalf of us all, and according to the rules we have made.

She guarantees a neutral judiciary, and enhances national identity in countless ways. Her image appears on all our coinage, as well as many postage stamps and bank notes. She sets a tone of stability, one reinforced as we look forward in the fullness of time to the reigns of her successors, Charles, William and George. Entrenched in our Constitution,she is at once a human being and the incarnation of a bedrock institution of Canada, giving authority to both the federal government and the provincial governments. She is the fount of Honour, recognizing Canadians for their good deeds, and encouraging others to do the same.
As our friend, The Queen exemplifies the ideal of service, freely given. As a figure of unity, she denies herself the expression of personal opinions in favour of listening what we have to say. She is the particular friend and trusted Ally of our First Nations peoples. She defies stereotypes of age, continuing at age 89 to show that a busy schedule, interest in others and engagement with communities is a recipe for happiness and longevity we might all wish to emulate. She does not follow style nor seek to be a “personality” - she is herself.

She has been with us in Canada from sea to sea to sea, in large cities and rural hamlets, meeting us, encouraging us, spreading happiness and a sense of common values and shared purpose wherever she journeys. She has been and in memory remains forever a central part of every significant occasion in our national life, from the opening of the St Lawrence Seaway in 1959 to Expo ‘67 to the Montreal Olympics, the final Patriation of our Constitution, Canada 125, the Anniversaries of D-Day and Vimy and recently of Ypres; and, God willing, she will join us in the great party for Canada 150 in 2017.

First coming to Canada as Princess in 1951 when Vincent Massey was Governor General, and Louis St Laurent her Prime Minister, she has known all their successors, and met many of us who see in her, yes, the mysterious enchantment of monarchy; but much more the down-to-earth hard work of a woman whom we admire - a granny and great-grandmother now - but always, a Mother of our Confederation and constant companion in the ups and downs of our nation’s life. “I am no fair weather friend,” she once observed on Parliament Hill. How true.

She is the only Monarch most of us have ever known - how fortunate we are. What a challenge to all her fellow Canadians that we might live our lives inspired by her good example. And that, in a nutshell, is why we are gathered here today. To say thank you, and well done and long life - God bless and keep her.