Their Honors Ltd. Governor Philip Lee and Anita Lee

Premier Selinger, Their Honors Lt. Governor Philip Lee and Anita Lee view photos from past Royal Visits on the occasion of the Queen's 60th Jubilee

February 2, 2012

MANITOBA TO JOIN NATIONAL CELEBRATION OF QUEEN'S DIAMOND JUBILEE

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Events Honour 60 Years of Service, Dedication to Canada: Premier, Lieutenant-governor

Lt.-Gov. Philip Lee and Premier Greg Selinger today announced that Manitoba will join Canada’s other provinces and territories in marking the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II’s reign as Queen.
“For 60 years, Her Majesty has set the standard for public service,” said Lee.  “By celebrating this historic and significant anniversary, we recognize our heritage and the institutions that define who we are as Manitobans and Canadians.  I am delighted that the first Diamond Jubilee event will be held this afternoon at the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba in Brandon as part of the Lieutenant-governor’s Winter Festival.”
Other planned events and commemorations include the unveiling of a Diamond Jubilee ice sculpture in front of the Legislative Building on Monday, Feb. 6, the day of the Queen’s accession to the throne.  A special architectural lighting display of the building will be turned on that evening and the Queen’s Canadian flag will fly at the Legislative Building all day.  Churches throughout the province are also being asked to ring their bells for two minutes at 6 p.m. that evening.
A commemorative book of celebration for the public to sign to congratulate Her Majesty and the Royal Family, and a special royal visit photo exhibit will be set up in the foyer of the Legislative Building where they will remain for three months.  A special commemorative book will also travel to several communities throughout the province later in the year.  In addition, a page on the provincial government’s website (http://www.manitoba.ca/) will be available beginning Monday so people can offer congratulations online.
As part of the anniversary preparations, the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa is striking 60,000 Diamond Jubilee medals, which will be awarded to civic-minded Canadians throughout 2012.  Around 900 Manitobans are expected to receive this honour.  

“It will truly be an exciting year for the province and the nation as we commemorate Elizabeth II’s accession as Queen six decades ago,” said Selinger.  “We invite all Manitobans to participate in the events planned for the weeks and months ahead.”
Queen Elizabeth II is the second-longest reigning monarch in British history after Queen Victoria, who reigned for more than 63 years.

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Upcoming Event - Hiroshima Day - August 6, 2010 - Memorial Blvd

Hiroshima Day in Winnipeg: August 6, 2010
WINNIPEG, August 3, 2010 – On Aug. 6, the 1945 nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki will be marked with a Lantern Ceremony at Memorial Park in Winnipeg. The keynote address will be given by MP Bill Siksay (Burnaby-Douglas) on a private members bill (C-447) now before Parliament for the establishment of a Department of Peace.
Date: Friday, August 6, 2010

Place: Memorial Park (by the fountain, York Avenue and Memorial Boulevard)
Time: Lantern making begins at 7:30 p.m.; speakers begin at 8:30 p.m.; lanterns will be launched at 9:15 p.m.
Speakers Lineup:
Welcome: to be announced
Letter of Greeting from Mayor Sam Katz: Glenn Michalchuk, Peace Alliance Winnipeg

Reading of the Mayor of Hiroshima’s Speech 2010: Lesley HughesFor a Department of Peace: Bill Siksay, MP (Burnaby/Douglas)
Reading of “The story of Sadako”: Terumi Kuwada, President of the National Association of Japanese Canadians

The Significance of the Lantern Ceremony: Terumi Kuwada, President of the National Association of Japanese Canadians
The annual commemoration of the Hiroshima/Nagasaki bombings is part of a world wide observance held to promote nuclear disarmament and world peace. In Winnipeg, the event is sponsored by the Manitoba Japanese Canadian Citizens Association, Peace Alliance Winnipeg, and Project Peacemakers.
Media Contact: For more information, or to arrange interviews, call Paul Graham at (204) 998-1162.

Background
In August, 1945, after 6 months of firebombing attacks on 67 Japanese cities, US President Harry Truman ordered the atomic bombing of Hiroshima (August 6) and Nagasaki (August 9). The death toll was enormous – 140,000 in Hiroshima and 80,000 in Nagasaki by the end of 1945. Many more thousands died over the months and years to come from injuries and illnesses caused by radiation poisoning.

For many years, Winnipeggers have commemorated these tragedies and reaffirmed our commitment to peace and freedom from nuclear terror. We symbolize our commitment with a Lantern Ceremony.
The Lantern Ceremony is part of an ancient Buddhist Ceremony (O-Bon), that commemorates the lives of deceased loved ones. For many years around the world, this ceremony has been used on Hiroshima Peace Day to remember and embrace the memory of people who died because of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. During these ceremonies, participants are invited to design a lantern that represents their thoughts and feelings regarding personal losses, global concerns of peace, nuclear disarmament and any other issues relevant to keeping our planet safe.

Video of last year's Lantern Ceremony in Winnipeg: http://www.peacealliancewinnipeg.ca/2009/08/winnipeg-lanterns-for-peace-2009/
Sadako and a Thousand Paper Cranes

In addition to lanterns we will be making origami peace cranes to commemorate the story of “Sadako and a Thousand Paper Cranes.”
Sadako Sasaki, a young girl of 10 years old, became sick with leukemia from the effects of the atomic bomb in post war Japan. She believed in an ancient tale that if you made 1000 paper cranes, you would be granted a wish. She wished for good health.
She died before she completed making the cranes and her classmates completed the task for her.
Each year, thousands of paper cranes from all over the world adorn the statue of Sadako in the Hiroshima Peace Park in Hiroshima, Japan.
Bill C-447 – An Act to establish the Department of Peace

Bill Siksay, MP (Burnaby-Douglas) is the mover of Bill C-447 - An Act to Establish a Department of Peace. Seconded by Jim Karygiannis, MP (Scarborough-Agincourt ), the bill passed First Reading in the House of Commons, Sept. 30, 2009. Mr. Siksay will speak about this bill at the Lantern Ceremony.

You can read the full Bill in English and French, here: Bill C-447
The mandate envisioned for the Minister of Peace is to reinvigorate Canada’s role as a peacekeeper and peacebuilder as follows:
Develop early detection and rapid response processes to deal with emerging conflicts and establish systemic responses to post-conflict demobilization, reconciliation and reconstruction
Lead internationally to abolish nuclear, biological, chemical weapons, to reduce conventional weapon arsenals and to ban the weaponization of space
Implement the UN Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace (1999) to safeguard human rights and enhance the security of persons and their communities

Implement UN Resolution 1325 on the key role played by women in the wide spectrum of peacebuilding work
Establish a Civilian Peace Service that, with other training organizations, will recruit, train and accredit peace professionals and volunteers to work at home and abroad, as an alternative to armed intervention.
Address issues of violence in Canada by promoting nonviolent approaches that encourage community involvement and responsibility such as Restorative Justice, Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR)
Support the development of peace education at all levels including post-secondary peace and conflict studies
Promote the transition from a war-based to a peace-based economy.
More information of Bill C-447: http://www.departmentofpeace.ca/