Remembering Queen Elizabeth II in Edmonton
With the sad passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, we remember Her Majesty’s visits to Alberta (with emphasis in Edmonton). May God rest her soul, and long live King Charles III.
Queen Elizabeth II visited Alberta on the following tours to Canada. Images have been compiled from public archives and sourced.
1951: Visited Edmonton & Calgary as Princess Elizabeth with the Duke of Edinburgh.
Source: Government of Alberta Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Page
1959: Visited Banff with the Duke of Edinburgh.
Source: Government of Alberta Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Page
1960: Visited Edmonton on a royal tour.
Source: Government of Alberta Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Page
1973: Visited Calgary with the Duke of Edinburgh for the RCMP Centennial.
Source: Government of Alberta Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Page
1978: Opened the Commonwealth Games with the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward. The royal tour included Edmonton (stopping at Fort Edmonton, Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Citadel Theatre, Government House), Bruderheim, Chipman, Fort Saskatchewan, Grande Prairie, Lamont, Mundare, Peace River, St. Paul, and Vegreville.
Source: Musée Héritage Museum
1985: Attending the Queen’s Plate and 5th Angus Forum at CFB Cold Lake and Edmonton. Accompanied by the Queen Mother.
1990: For the presentation of new Queen’s Colour to the Calgary Highlanders in Calgary and Red Deer.
2005: For the centennial year of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Visited Edmonton and Calgary with Duke of Edinburgh. The Edmonton visit included the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Commonwealth Stadium, renaming Provincial Museum of Alberta to Royal Alberta Museum, City Hall & Sir Winston Churchill Square, and Fairmont Hotel Macdonald. Alberta Highway 2 was also renamed the Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Highway.
Source: Government of Alberta Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Page
Source: Lincoln Ho
Here’s a clip of her visit in 2005.
Places in Edmonton named in Her Majesty’s honour include: Princess Elizabeth Avenue, Queen Elizabeth Pool, Queen Elizabeth Planetarium, Queen Elizabeth Park, Queen Elizabeth School, Queen Elizabeth Park Road, and Queen Elizabeth II Highway.
The City of Edmonton released this statement at 2:51pm September 8, 2022, including a link to a book of condolence. (There is also an online book of condolence on the Royal Family website here, and another one on the Government of Canada site here.)
Canada’s head of state, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, passed away earlier today. The Queen’s death has a deep impact in Britain, the Commonwealth and across the globe.
“It is sad news to hear of the passing of Canada’s head of state, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi. “I invite Edmontonians to pay their respects over the coming days to the Queen, Britain’s longest serving monarch.”
A 10-day period of mourning began at the moment of Queen Elizabeth’s passing, and the Province of Alberta has released information about the mourning period, memorial services, and other arrangements.
The City of Edmonton is setting up a book of condolence in City Hall’s City Room with a photo display of the Queen’s visits to Edmonton. Further information will be made available on edmonton.ca/crown.
Edmontonians are invited to pay their respects and take part in local, provincial, and federal ceremonies of remembrance for Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
