News Release Archive
LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR--Holiday Season Message ----------------------------------------------------------------- Holiday season message from Lt.-Gov. John James Kinley: My wife, Grace, and I have completed our third year as the Queen's representative and Chatelaine in Nova Scotia, and we welcome the occasion to again send greetings to you, our fellow Nova Scotians. Over three years, we have had the opportunity to meet and visit with many Nova Scotians than ever before in our lives, and it continues to be a wonderful experience. We have learned that the position of the Lieutenant-Governor and his Chatelaine, which we looked on as being mostly ceremonial, is much more than that. It is a people job. When requested, we attend functions throughout the province which are delightful experiences in themselves, and also we receive people at Government House to be honoured or recognized for some contribution they have made to their fellow Nova Scotians. As many of you know, certainly those of you who live in Halifax, Government House has been during this period of three years under a very thorough restoration. Next year, 1998, will be the 200th anniversary of the commencement of the building of Government House. I think you will agree that the house, having served for two centuries and being the oldest Government House in North America, is due for a renovation. Work will continue during the winter season and we are now anticipating completion by next summer. Because of renovations in progress, we held our traditional garden party this year in Yarmouth where we received a warm welcome. So much so, that next summer we hope to hold another rural garden party in another part of the province in addition to the traditional garden party at Government House in Halifax. In our three years, we have found that each year is quite different from each other year. Indeed, one of the greatest pleasures of being Lieutenant-Governor and Chatelaine is that each day is different from any other, and each is a pleasant experience. There are too many events in these 365 days to mention them here, but I do want to mention a few that were unique to this year. Our Queen Annapolisa, who represents the spirit of our Annapolis Valley communities and who was chosen and crowned at the Apple Blossom Festival held in May, was later chosen Miss Canada International, which is a great thrill for Nova Scotians. On Canada Day, I was honoured, on behalf of His Excellency the Right Honourable Romeo LeBlanc, Governor General of Canada, to present the first Caring Canadian Award to four Nova Scotians at Citadel Hill in Halifax and to a fifth recipient in Pugwash who was unable to attend the ceremony at Halifax. It is an award conceived by His Excellency to give recognition to citizens whom he refers to as, "the unsung heroes who work continuously as volunteers on behalf of their fellow Canadians." These are the first five awards presented in Nova Scotia, but I look forward to many more. Our Nova Scotia International Tattoo, which has gained worldwide fame because of the excellence of its event, featured this year a visit of His Majesty The King's Guard from Norway. Their superb performance at the Tattoo and their visits in Lunenburg and Chester along the South Shore of Nova Scotia brought back memories of the wartime days when Norwegians joined with us in the tremendous struggle of the Second World War. Later in July, Grace and I were guests at the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs. The Pugwash Conference, which was founded by a Nova Scotian, Cyrus Eaton, at his home, has become world famous for its work to rid the world of nuclear bombs which are such a terrible threat to all mankind. Dr. Joseph Rotblat, who received the Nobel Peace Prize together with the Pugwash Conference, was present for the occasion. In his retirement address, Dr. Rotblat persevered with the message he has given during half a century about the danger of a nuclear war which could exterminate the human race. On August 17, I was a guest of Zion Lutheran congregation in Lunenburg when they celebrated the 250th anniversary of their founding, the oldest Lutheran congregation in Canada. I was joined on that occasion by my predecessor, the Honourable Lloyd R. Crouse, and his wife, Marion, who are members of the congregation, in the church service and afterwards in the church garden, which we officially opened with the planting of a tree, together with the minister and members of the congregation present. Nova Scotia is a very historic province, and we have many occasions in which to celebrate our heritage. The arrival of the replica of John Cabot's Ship Matthew in our province last August brought our attention back to our origins. The man we know as John Cabot, who was born in Italy as Giovanni Caboto, made his historic voyage 500 years ago in the service of the King of England, and although much of his voyage and discovery are shrouded in mystery, he and his crew certainly landed in the part of North America which is now Canada and changed our history and the history of the world very significantly. Several experienced Nova Scotian sailors were fortunate to sail as crew members of the Matthew when she sailed in Canadian waters. The summer was one of the warmest and sunniest we have experienced for many years and a happy occasion not only for Nova Scotians, but for the many tourists who visited our province. Later in the summer, we were saddened by the tragic death of Diana, Princess of Wales, who was named "the people's princess." Her death was followed in a few days by the death of Mother Teresa. These two women, who were born to positions of wealth and comfort, chose to work tirelessly on behalf of disadvantaged people and will always be remembered as such. The beginning of the autumn season marked the reopening of Neptune Theatre in its new premises in downtown Halifax. The new Neptune Theatre rejoins the growing theatre industry in Nova Scotia. This industry is blossoming all across our province with major theatrical events at the Atlantic Theatre Festival and in many of our other towns and villages throughout the province. On Oct. 30, I was present at the Little Dutch Church in Halifax for the official lift-off of the restoration project and the announcement of the grant from the Nova Scotia government. We have within this month of December commemorated the 80th anniversary of the saddest event in our province's history, the Halifax Explosion, an event which was the largest manmade explosion to have ever occurred before the atomic explosions in the Second World War. We still have living among us survivors of this terrible catastrophe, and the stories that they can tell and others have expressed are a triumph of human courage over unbelievable disaster which inspire all of us. They are living proof of the courage and determination of our people here in Nova Scotia. Each day brings new stories of courage and accomplishment which are basic to our growth as a nation. Now we celebrate the holiday season. It is for all a family time when we can contemplate how fortunate we are to live in Canada. Again, Grace joins me in extending to all of you in friendship our best wishes for a happy holiday season and good health and happiness through the coming year. -30- ngr Dec. 17, 1997 4:25 p.m.