Canadian Heritage unveils details of National Commemorative Ceremony in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Canadian Heritage has announced the details for the National Commemorative Ceremony in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away on Thursday, September 8, 2022. This historic event will take place on Monday, September 19, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. (ET) at Christ Church Cathedral in Ottawa following all elements of the state funeral in London.

Commemorative ceremony program details

• The Very Reverend Elizabeth J. Bretzlaff, Dean of Christ Church Cathedral Ottawa, and the Right Reverend Shane A. D. Parker, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa, will officiate at the service.
• Prayers will be read by Canadian Secretary to the King Donald Booth and Brigadier-General Guy Bélisle, Canadian Armed Forces Chaplain General.
• Preludes and postludes will be performed by the Appleby College String Ensemble and Christ Church Cathedral organists.
• Addresses will be delivered by:
  • The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, 26th Governor General of Canada, and
  • The Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, 18th Prime Minister of Canada
• Algonquin Spiritual Advisor and English Poet Laureate of Ottawa Albert Dumont will pay tribute to Her Majesty the Queen.
• During the ceremony, musical interludes will be performed by artists such as violinist David Baik, playwright, producer and director Tomson Highway, accompanied by vocalist Patricia Cano and saxophonist Marcus Ali.
• Author, singer-songwriter and actor Ginette Reno and singer-songwriter and composer Rufus Wainwright will each perform a song in homage to Her Majesty the Queen.
• The national anthem will be interpreted by singer and actor Kim Richardson.
• The complete program will be available online on the day of the ceremony.

Memorial parade

• The parade will depart at 12:10 p.m. ET from Cartier Drill Hall and will travel through downtown Ottawa, passing the National Aboriginal Veterans Monument and the National War Memorial, while following the ceremonial route along Wellington Street. It will arrive at Christ Church Cathedral for the start of the ceremony.
• People in Canada's Capital Region are invited to gather along the memorial parade route. Road closure details and a map of the memorial parade route will be published as they become available on the website and on The Crown in Canada social media accounts.
• The memorial parade will consist of two mounted detachments of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Musical Ride, each composed of 13 riders; a 100-person Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) quad-service guard of honour (navy, army, air force and special forces); the CAF Central Band, supported by the Royal Canadian Air Force Pipes and Drums and the Governor General Foot Guards Band; 17 honorary pallbearers (representatives of regiments affiliated with Her Majesty the Queen and a representative of the RCMP); and a flag bearer (a member of the CAF National Sentry Program).
• A 96-gun salute-one salvo for each year of Her Majesty's life-will be conducted during the memorial parade from the LeBreton Flats, across from the Canadian War Museum.

Flypast

• The National Commemorative Ceremony will end with a flypast over Parliament Hill and Christ Church Cathedral by Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18s.

Following the live broadcast

• The National Commemorative Ceremony will be televised live across Canada and will be available on Canadian Heritage's YouTube channel and on the Crown in Canada Facebook account so all Canadians can participate.
• People across Canada are invited to visit the commemorative website, sign the online book of condolences and to follow the Crown in Canada and Canadian Heritage social media accounts.