\u201cToday, we are here to celebrate the Queen\u2019s Platinum Jubilee and that marks an amazing milestone,\u201d said Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill MP Leah Taylor Roy, representing the Federal Government, which provided a grant to make the celebrations possible. \u201cIt\u2019s the first time since Confederation we\u2019ve been able to celebrate that and I appreciate the fact that [emcee John Green of the Aurora Historical Society opened] with a land recognition here because our country has seen so many phases and so many peoples and we\u2019re continually evolving \u2013 but the Queen\u2019s 70 years of service, since at the age of 25 [when] she ascended the throne has been a testament to incredible public service, dedication and loyalty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut this morning I also want to think about the Queen as a person who is now 96, her health is failing, and she has been a mother, a grandmother, a great-grandmother. She has seen her husband pass away and has seen through so many family tragedies and joyous moments like all of us \u2013 but has had to do it in the public eye. She has done it with great dignity and respect, and I think today we should not only honour the Platinum Jubilee and the position, but the woman because she is an amazing woman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is good to remember the words of a young princess, before Queen Elizabeth II came to the throne, during the war she encouraged the children. What she said was, \u2018and when peace comes, remember it will be for us, the children of today, to make the world of tomorrow a better and happier place.\u2019 I hope we all remember her words and, in her honour, let us all make the world a better and happier place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While he was unable to attend the event, Newmarket-Aurora MP Tony Van Bynen sent a message paying tribute to the Queen\u2019s love for Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cQueen Elizabeth II\u2019s reign as monarch has truly been one of remarkable love for Canada and for Canadians,\u201d he said, in a message relayed by Mr. Green. \u201cOver the past seven decades, Queen Elizabeth II has been a constant presence in the lives of Canadians and has witnessed growth and significant change in Canadian society. The Queen has cultivated enduring ties with Canadians over years of connecting with our rich cultures and traditions. Throughout her reign, the Queen has made 22 official tours of Canada, more than any other Commonwealth country. Her travels have brought [her to] the east, west, and north, to large cities, to small towns, and tiny hamlets. She has met countless Canadians and has been present for our most important milestones and celebrations. Her Majesty has said in multiple speeches that she always regards Canada as home and shares in the pride we take in our achievements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI join with each of you today in celebration of her remarkable life, with thanks for the love she has shown our nation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before the Aurora Community Band, led by Gord Shepard, got the crowd up on their feet with their interpretation of many songs that have become part of the public\u2019s consciousness over the past 70 years, and before women in the crowd came together for a Best Fascinator contest, pomp and circumstance was offered by John Webster, Aurora\u2019s Official Town Crier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are celebrating our glorious Queen\u2019s Platinum Jubilee. Elizabeth, the second of that name, our most beloved sovereign and head of The Commonwealth for 70 years, how apt that this should be the Platinum anniversary of her accession \u2013 platinum, that most noble of metals, more precious even than gold. So, it is in honour of this unique occasion that beacons and events such as this, are being held throughout the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, and the UK territories, and in cities and towns in The Commonwealth such as here in Aurora. Let it be known that in proclaiming this tribute to Her Majesty the Queen on her Platinum Jubilee, that we are one nation and one Commonwealth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Aurorans gathered in Town Park on Saturday morning, those who had travelled to the United Kingdom were gathering outside Buckingham Palace for the Platinum Party at the Palace, an all-star concert that was the highlight of the UK\u2019s four-day celebration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Commemorations began Thursday with the Trooping the Colour, the Monarch\u2019s official British birthday, followed by the Queen\u2019s appearance on the iconic palace balcony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Thanksgiving Service took place at St. Paul\u2019s Cathedral the following day, missed by the Queen who was experiencing \u201cdiscomfort\u201d from the day before. Following the concert, events culminated with a pageant celebrating the Queen\u2019s life and the Queen herself making one final Jubilee appearance on the balcony alongside her direct heirs: the Prince of Wales, accompanied by the Duchess of Cornwall, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cambridge, with their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Across Canada, commemorations included a light show on Parliament Hill, beacon lightings in Ottawa, Toronto, and in other major cities, and a Government of Ontario garden party held at Toronto\u2019s Aga Khan Museum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen it comes to mark 70 years as your Queen, there is no guidebook to follow,\u201d said the Queen in a message issued after the UK celebrations wrapped. \u201cIt really is a first. But I have been humbled and deeply touched that so many people have taken to the streets to celebrate my Platinum Jubilee. While I may not have attended every event in person, my heart has been with you all and I remain committed to serving you to the best of my ability, supported by my family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have been inspired by the kindness, joy and kinship that has been so evident in recent days, and I hope this renewed sense of togetherness will be felt for many years to come. I thank you most sincerely for your good wishes and for the part you have all played in these happy celebrations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By Brock Weir .<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":31431,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general_news","category-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/2022-06-09-01.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3D2k4-8b9","publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-26 02:08:43","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31443","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31443"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31443\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31431"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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