|
The Queen's Bench at Memorial ParkTo be unveiled on September 9th, 2015, by the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell OC OOnt, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
The Queen’s Bench commemorates that on September 9th, 2015, the reign of Queen Elizabeth II will surpass that of Queen Victoria, making it the longest reign in Canada’s modern era. The bench is engraved with many of the Canadian milestones of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada. The project was completed thanks to generous donations by members of the community.
|
Canadian milestones from the reign of Queen Elizabeth II engraved on The Queen's Bench:
- First Royal Tour of Canada (as Princess Elizabeth) - 1951
- Ascended the throne as Queen of Canada - February 6th, 1952
- First monarch to open Parliament (Ottawa) - 1957
- First visit to United States as Queen of Canada - 1957
- Appointed the first French Canadian Governor General (General Vanier) - 1959
- Named "Mother of all People" by the Salish Nation - 1959
- Opened the St. Lawrence Seaway - 1959
- Celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences - 1964
- Proclaimed the Canadian National Flag - 1965
- Presided over Centennial celebrations on Parliament Hill (Ottawa) - 1967
- Established the Order of Canada - 1967
- Established the Order of Military Merit - 1972
- Commemorated the 100th anniversary of the founding of the North-West Mounted Police - 1973
- Commemorated the signing of Treaties Six and Seven - 1976
- Opened the Games of the XXI Olympiad (Montreal) - 1976
- Celebrated Silver Jubilee and opened Parliament (Ottawa) - 1977
- Proclaimed the Constitution Act & Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - 1982
- Visited Her Majesty's Chapel of the Mohawks at Six Nations of the Grand River - 1984
- Established the Canadian Heraldic Authority - 1988
- Unveiled her equestrian statue on Parliament Hill (Ottawa) - 1992
- Approved the creation of the Canadian Victoria Cross - 1993
- Commemorated the 500th anniversary of the arrival of John Cabot in Newfoundland - 1997
- Established the Order of Merit of the Police Forces - 2000
- Celebrated Golden Jubilee - 2002
- Elevated Christ Church, near Deseronto (on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory), to become a Royal Chapel - 2004
- Presented a stone taken from the Balmoral estate to the First Nations University of Canada - 2005
- Rededicated the Canadian National Vimy Memorial (France) - 2007
- Commemorated the 300th Anniversary of the Covenant Chain Relationship - 2010
- Marked the 100th anniversary of the baptism of Mi'kmaq Grand Chief Henri Membertou - 2010
- Marked the Centennial of the Royal Canadian Navy (Halifax) - 2010
- Unveiled the cornerstone of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (Winnipeg) - 2010
- Celebrated Diamond Jubilee - 2012
- Accepted title of “Commissioner-in-Chief” of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police - 2012
- Approved the creation of the Polar Medal - 2015
- Approved the creation of The Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers - 2015
- Attended the centennial celebrations of the entry into Confederation of Manitoba (1970), Northwest Territories (1970), British Columbia (1971), Prince Edward Island (1973), Saskatchewan and Alberta (2005).
Donors
|
Wilf and Doris Arndt
Carolyn Brown Marilyn Hardsand UE Madeleine and Monte Levy Carrie and Mark Mullins Oresta Orlick Councillor Judi Partridge Councillor Robert Pasuta Rotary Club of Waterdown The Students, Parents and Staff of Yorkview Public School (Dundas) David Sweet MP The Tidridge Family United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada - Hamilton Branch The Waterdown - East Flamborough Heritage Society |
The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell stands behind The Queen's Bench while Sophie Tidridge and Alayna and Celina Rivait are seated on it. September 9th, 2015
|
Queen's Bench Damaged - March 18th, 2022
On March 18th, 2022, City of Hamilton staff reported that the Queen's Bench has been damaged. Work is currently underway to have the monument restored/replaced. Watch this space for more details.