Canada's Constitutional Monarchy
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  • Did You Know?
  • About the Author
    • Lieutenant Governor's Speech at Diamond Jubilee Medal Ceremony
  • Teacher Resources
  • Links
    • Links for Teaching Civics in Canada
  • Images and Videos of the Canadian Crown
    • Flags
    • La Citadelle, Quebec City
    • Government House, New Brunswick
    • Government House, Nova Scotia
    • Government House, PEI
    • Government House, Saskatchewan
    • Her Majesty's Royal Chapel of the Mohawk
    • Queen's Park, Ontario
    • QEW Monument, Toronto
    • Simcoe's Monument and Navy Hall
  • Resources that explore the Canadian Crown
    • A history of treaty-making in Canada
    • Burmese - The Saskatchewan Story of The Queen's Golden Jubilee Statue (2005)
    • Canada's Victoria Cross (2009)
    • Crown of Maples (2008)
    • Crown of Maples (2012)
    • Diamond Jubilee River Pagent (2012)
    • Discover Canada (2009)
    • Dr. Peter Russell explains prorogation and the Canadian Constitution (2012)
    • Fiftieth Anniversary of the 1939 Royal Visit (1989)
    • Governors, Lieutenant Governors and Administrators of Prince Edward Island
    • Historica-Dominion Diamond Jubilee Resource
    • New Zealand Cabinet Manuel
    • Queen Elizabeth II's Rededication of Vimy Ridge Memorial (2007)
    • Queen's Tours of Canada, 1951-2010
    • Teaching Parliament in Ontario (2009)
    • The Canadian Forces' Decoration (2011)
    • The Crown and the Provinces: Canada's Compound Monarchy (2010)
    • The Diamond Jubilee Window (2012)
    • The Governance of Britain Review of the Executive Royal Prerogative Powers: Final Report
    • The Monarchy in Alberta (2005)
    • Wearing Guide for the Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012)
  • Ontario Civics' Curriculum
  • Pledge of the Crown 2015

Teacher Resources

Explore Canadian Symbols

Indigenous Peoples and the Crown

What do Indigenous Peoples mean when they refer to the Crown?
​
There is no single answer to this question as there are hundreds of Nations, as well as individual perspectives on their different Treaty relationships with the Crown. In most cases, it is important to remember that the Crown is in specific Treaty relationships with Indigenous Peoples across the land that were formed at different times, under circumstances unique to the partnerships that needed to be created in order to co-exist.
The Crown and Indigenous Peoples
File Size: 275 kb
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The Royal Proclamation, Treaty of Niagara & Reconciliation Presentation
"The Vice Regal Office in Canada" Guest Lecture Presentation
University of Toronto (Scarborough Campus)
January 25th, 2016

Decolonizing the Crown in Canada Presentation
File Size: 19787 kb
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Swearing-in a New Ministry - November 4th, 2015

On November 4th, 2015, the Governor General of Canada presided over the swearing-in of Mr. Justin Trudeau as Canada's 23rd prime minister. The 29th ministry (Cabinet) was also sworn in during this event. The Office of the Governor General created the following resources to help explain the event, educating Canadians about their system of government.

Infographic detailing swearing-in ceremony
Infographic: Oaths
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Factsheet: Great Seal of Canada
File Size: 159 kb
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Factsheet: Official Oaths
File Size: 166 kb
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Factsheet: Privy Councillors
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Queen Elizabeth II proclaims the National Maple Leaf Flag of Canada
February 15th, 1965

The creation of the Maple Leaf Flag is often portrayed as a step in Canada's "evolution away from the monarchy." However, while the new flag did signal a step away from Canada's purely British identity, it served to enhance the Canadian Crown (Elizabeth II proclaimed the new flag as the Queen of Canada).  Rather than a break from the "British Monarchy," the Maple Leaf Flag served to enhance the Canadian Constitutional Monarchy. 

It is also important to remember that Canada's official colours - red and white - were proclaimed  in 1921 by King George V.

The Queen's proclamation of the flag of Canada

Lieutenant Governor David Onley makes appeal to all politicians
Toronto Star, Martin Regg Cohan
September 12th, 2013

An example of the modern role of a lieutenant governor as a uniting force in government

Download newspaper clipping here
Link to online version of the article

The Prince of Wales commemorates Laura Secord (June 2013)

Like his great great grandfather, Edward VII, the Prince of Wales reminds Canadians of the important legacy Laura Secord played in our history, identity and emerging culture. The message was recorded for "The Friends of Laura Secord." 

Announcement made by "The Friends of Laura Secord" with the video message:

The Friends of Laura Secord are pleased and honoured to announce the receipt of a personalized video message from His Royal Highness Charles, Prince of Wales, on the occasion of the Bicentennial Celebrations for Laura Secord's famous walk into history and the official opening of the Laura Secord Legacy Trail.

Video was recorded 07 June 2013 at St. James' Palace. First viewed publicly on Friday, 21 June 2013 at the Toast to Laura Secord reception beside the Laura Secord Monument at picturesque Queenston Heights Park, Queenston, Ontario.

A note on pronunciation: HRH Prince Charles uses an acceptable but less widely used variant on the pronounciation of Laura Secord's surname, one which is more common in the United Kingdom than in North America. The ancestors of Laura's husband James Secord were Huguenots (French Protestants) with the original surname Sicard. In the late 1600s, Ambroise Sicard, a French Huguenot born in Mornac, France in 1631, fled from the persecution that followed the Treaty of Nantes, and in the 17th century ended up at New Rochelle. Some of his descendants (like James and his family) became United Empire Loyalists living in Upper Canada. Most of the Secords in Southwestern Ontario are descended from three of Ambroise SIcard's great-grandchildren - John, Peter, and James Secord (Laura Secord's husband).

In addition to evolving towards a more Anglicized spelling, the Secord surname has also undergone changes in pronunciation. Most commonly pronounced as 'SEE-cord', it is also pronounced by some family members as 'SEH-cord'. Other pronunciation variants exist worldwide, notably in Guatemala and Norway, where members of the extended Secord family are known to reside.


Watch the Prince of Wales' tribute to Laura Secord

For Every Classroom! A great resource created by the Department of Canadian Heritage:

Canada's Kings and Queen's Poster by Cdn Heritage

Teacher Resource Guide - The Provincial Crown (Dundurn Press, 2012)

This Teacher’s Guide has been designed for use by the Vice-regal offices across Canada, and meets the various provincial curriculum expectations set out by their respective ministries of education. Teachers are free to adapt these lessons to the needs of their students – the main goal of each activity is to enhance the understanding and appreciation of the Crown as a unique Canadian institution.


John Fraser's rant on Soap Box: The Strombo Show, May 2012

Journalist John Fraser can't defend a foreign Royal Monarch ruling Canada, instead his definition of Canada is: the Crown of Canada. He talks about our nation's relationship with the Royal Family in his latest book, 'The Secret of the Crown: Canada's Affair with Royalty.'

Canada's Written and Unwritten Constitution Visual

The Canadian Constitution.pdf
File Size: 257 kb
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Canada's Parliament (It's all about balance):

Canada's Parliament.pdf
File Size: 749 kb
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Badges of Canada's Parliament

Badges of Parliament.pdf
File Size: 213 kb
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Canada's Compound Monarchy:

Canada's Compound Monarchy.pdf
File Size: 210 kb
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Visually Explaining Responsible Government:

Visually Explaining Responsible Government.pdf
File Size: 318 kb
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An Example of Responsible Government, Proroguing the Ontario Legislature
15 October, 2012

Proroguing the Ontario Government.pdf
File Size: 511 kb
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Ontario's Lieutenant Governor Explains Responsible Government
Toronto Star Article, January 13th, 2013

Ontario Lieutenant Governor explains Responsible Government.pdf
File Size: 269 kb
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Onley provides a needed education
Ottawa Citizen Article, February 27th, 2013

Onley provides a needed education.pdf
File Size: 135 kb
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The Evolution of the Canadian Crown: The King-Byng Affair, Balfour Report
​& Statute of Westminster (1931)

The Evolution of the Canadian Crown.pdf
File Size: 263 kb
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Visually explaining the Statue of Westminster (1931)

The Statue of Westminster (1931).pdf
File Size: 560 kb
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What is the Royal Prerogative?

The Royal Prerogative.pdf
File Size: 129 kb
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The Cabinet of Canada

The Cabinet of Canada.pdf
File Size: 300 kb
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The Dominion (and not the Kingdom) of Canada 

The Dominion of Canada.pdf
File Size: 143 kb
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1939 Royal Tour of Canada and Newfoundland by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth

1939 Royal Tour of King George VI.pdf
File Size: 507 kb
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Canada's prime minister advises King George VI, as King of Canada, to declare war on Germany, September 10th, 1939

Illustrating that Canada was no longer under the jurisdiction of the British Government or British Crown thanks to the Statute of Westminster (1931), Canadian prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King advised George VI, as King of Canada, to declare war on the German Reich in 1939 (declaring war falls under the royal prerogative). The King's signature is written under his note "Approved."
Letter to King George VI.pdf
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Proclamation of War as it appears in The Canada Gazette, Volume LXXIII, No. 12, p. 793 .pdf
File Size: 83 kb
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How do you get to become prime minister (if you were a Smurf) using Canada's democracy? 

How you get to be prime minister as a smurf.pdf
File Size: 140 kb
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Resources created by the Office to the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario:

Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Backgrounder (2013)
Constitutional Procedure Regarding a Change of Premier

2013 Backgrounder Constitutional Procedure Regarding a Change of Premier.pdf
File Size: 77 kb
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Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Commissions Premier-designate to Form Government:

Lieutenant Governor Commissions Premier-designate to Form New Government.pdf
File Size: 55 kb
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The Process of Appointing a new Premier and Executive Council (Cabinet):

The Process of Appointing a new Premier and Executive Council (Cabinet).pdf
File Size: 1175 kb
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Proclamation Convening the Parliament of Ontario (February 2013):

Proclamation Convening Ontario Parliament.pdf
File Size: 138 kb
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Backgrounder on the Speech from the Throne (February 19th, 2013)

Lieutenant Governor to Deliver Speech from the Throne.pdf
File Size: 38 kb
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The Unique and Distinct Commonwealth Realms

The Commonwealth Realms.pdf
File Size: 693 kb
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The Queen of Canada is dead; Long Live the British Queen?
Article written by Philippé Lagasse in response to the Canadian Government's Succession to the Throne Bill (C-53), highlighting the Canadian Crown is a corporation sole

Lagasse Article.pdf
File Size: 86 kb
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Learn about the Succession to the Throne Act
CBC - Royal baby law challenge (June 12, 2013)
Manitoba about Baby Bill (June 24, 2013)
Challenge to the Succession to the Throne Act
Letter from Manitoba Attorney General

The Ceremony of the Speech from the Throne Explained
Samara Canada
October 15th, 2013

Samara Video "Speech from the Throne"

Canada during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II (2015)

Canada During the Reign of Elizabeth II.pdf
File Size: 1176 kb
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Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent, and Canada

Prince Edward Augustus.pdf
File Size: 405 kb
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  • Home
  • Did You Know?
  • About the Author
    • Lieutenant Governor's Speech at Diamond Jubilee Medal Ceremony
  • Teacher Resources
  • Links
    • Links for Teaching Civics in Canada
  • Images and Videos of the Canadian Crown
    • Flags
    • La Citadelle, Quebec City
    • Government House, New Brunswick
    • Government House, Nova Scotia
    • Government House, PEI
    • Government House, Saskatchewan
    • Her Majesty's Royal Chapel of the Mohawk
    • Queen's Park, Ontario
    • QEW Monument, Toronto
    • Simcoe's Monument and Navy Hall
  • Resources that explore the Canadian Crown
    • A history of treaty-making in Canada
    • Burmese - The Saskatchewan Story of The Queen's Golden Jubilee Statue (2005)
    • Canada's Victoria Cross (2009)
    • Crown of Maples (2008)
    • Crown of Maples (2012)
    • Diamond Jubilee River Pagent (2012)
    • Discover Canada (2009)
    • Dr. Peter Russell explains prorogation and the Canadian Constitution (2012)
    • Fiftieth Anniversary of the 1939 Royal Visit (1989)
    • Governors, Lieutenant Governors and Administrators of Prince Edward Island
    • Historica-Dominion Diamond Jubilee Resource
    • New Zealand Cabinet Manuel
    • Queen Elizabeth II's Rededication of Vimy Ridge Memorial (2007)
    • Queen's Tours of Canada, 1951-2010
    • Teaching Parliament in Ontario (2009)
    • The Canadian Forces' Decoration (2011)
    • The Crown and the Provinces: Canada's Compound Monarchy (2010)
    • The Diamond Jubilee Window (2012)
    • The Governance of Britain Review of the Executive Royal Prerogative Powers: Final Report
    • The Monarchy in Alberta (2005)
    • Wearing Guide for the Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012)
  • Ontario Civics' Curriculum
  • Pledge of the Crown 2015