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.
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 |
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 |
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: Oaths |
| Factsheet: Great Seal of Canada |
| Factsheet: Official Oaths |
| Factsheet: Privy Councillors |
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.
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
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.
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.
For Every Classroom! A great resource created by the Department of Canadian 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 |
Canada's Parliament (It's all about balance):
| Canada's Parliament.pdf |
Badges of Canada's Parliament
| Badges of Parliament.pdf |
Canada's Compound Monarchy:
| Canada's Compound Monarchy.pdf |
Visually Explaining Responsible Government:
| Visually Explaining Responsible Government.pdf |
An Example of Responsible Government, Proroguing the Ontario Legislature
15 October, 2012
| Proroguing the Ontario Government.pdf |
Ontario's Lieutenant Governor Explains Responsible Government
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| Ontario Lieutenant Governor explains Responsible Government.pdf |
Onley provides a needed education
Ottawa Citizen Article, February 27th, 2013
| Onley provides a needed education.pdf |
The Evolution of the Canadian Crown: The King-Byng Affair, Balfour Report
& Statute of Westminster (1931)
| The Evolution of the Canadian Crown.pdf |
Visually explaining the Statue of Westminster (1931)
| The Statue of Westminster (1931).pdf |
What is the Royal Prerogative?
| The Royal Prerogative.pdf |
The Cabinet of Canada
| The Cabinet of Canada.pdf |
The Dominion (and not the Kingdom) of Canada
| The Dominion of Canada.pdf |
1939 Royal Tour of Canada and Newfoundland by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth
| 1939 Royal Tour of King George VI.pdf |
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 |
| Proclamation of War as it appears in The Canada Gazette, Volume LXXIII, No. 12, p. 793 .pdf |
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 |
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 |
Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Commissions Premier-designate to Form Government:
| Lieutenant Governor Commissions Premier-designate to Form New Government.pdf |
The Process of Appointing a new Premier and Executive Council (Cabinet):
| The Process of Appointing a new Premier and Executive Council (Cabinet).pdf |
Proclamation Convening the Parliament of Ontario (February 2013):
| Proclamation Convening Ontario Parliament.pdf |
Backgrounder on the Speech from the Throne (February 19th, 2013)
| Lieutenant Governor to Deliver Speech from the Throne.pdf |
The Unique and Distinct Commonwealth Realms
| The Commonwealth Realms.pdf |
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 |
The Ceremony of the Speech from the Throne Explained
Samara Canada
October 15th, 2013
Canada during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II (2015)
| Canada During the Reign of Elizabeth II.pdf |
Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent, and Canada
| Prince Edward Augustus.pdf |