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Elizabeth II - Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, since 1952
Elizabeth II - Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, since 1952
Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, since 1952
Portrait by Lilias Torrance Newton, 1957		 Maple Leaf
 

Elizabeth II became Queen on February 6, 1952. The following year, a Canadian law, the Royal Style and Titles Act, formally conferred upon her the title of Queen of Canada. As Canada's Head of State, the Queen is represented by the Governor General. Vincent Massey was the first Canadian to be appointed to this position in 1952. The Queen has demonstrated her attachment to Canada by some 30 visits here. In 1957, she became the first monarch to preside over an opening of the Canadian Parliament. Two years later, she inaugurated, with President Eisenhower, the Saint Lawrence Seaway. Georges Vanier became our first francophone Governor General in 1959. The Maple Leaf was adopted as the national flag in 1965. The Queen participated in the celebrations of the centennial of Confederation in 1967, and also became the Sovereign of the newly created Order of Canada. In 1969, Parliament adopted the Official Languages Act recognizing English and French as Canada's two official languages. The Queen proclaimed the opening of the Games of the XXI Olympiad in Montreal in 1976. The next year, following an amendment to the Citizenship Act, Canadians ceased to be British subjects. In 1980, O Canada! was recognized in law as our national anthem. On May 20, 1980, a first referendum was held in Quebec to separate that province from the rest of Canada.

Two years later, on April 17, 1982, the Queen promulgated the Constitution Act, 1982, which includes the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, recognition of the rights of Aboriginal peoples, the multicultural character of Canadian society, and patriation of the constitutional amending powers previously reserved to the British Parliament.

Patriation reaffirmed the primacy of the rule of law and the sovereignty of the Canadian people over this country's institutions and constitution. The territory of Nunavut was established in 1999. On October 12, 2003, the Governor-General-in-Council issued in Her Majesty's name a proclamation recognizing July 28 of every year as "A Day of Commemoration of the Great Upheaval" suffered by the Acadians in 1755.

The Queen, who is fluent in both official languages, remains associated with the significant events in the life of this country and has consistently demonstrated her respect for the choices that Canadians make in shaping their future.

* Portraits donated to the Canadiana Fund by the Hon. Serge Joyal, Senator.

 
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