News
TRH travel from Newfoundland and Labrador to Ontario
4th November 2009
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall began the third day of their tour of Canada by each planting an English oak sapling in the grounds of Government House. The house is the official home of John Crosbie, the Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador.
TRH travelled on to a wreath laying ceremony where they paid their respects to Canada's war dead at the St. John’s National War Memorial.
In brilliant sunshine The Prince and The Duchess, surrounded by war veterans and local residents, stood for a minute's silence facing the monument before The Prince laid a wreath as a mark of respect.
TRH were both wearing two poppies as they have done for all of their visit - one each for Britain and Canada.
They met Second World War veterans and the families of servicemen killed in Afghanistan. Canada has had 133 military personnel killed since the conflict began with the latest death - Sapper Steven Marshall - coming only last week.
The Prince, who publicly expressed his sympathy with Sapper Marshall's family earlier this week, also met Natasha Lucas whose husband, Sergeant Don Lucas, was killed in April 2007 by a roadside bomb.
Mrs Lucas brought her two children Matthew, seven, and Mackenzie, four, and her son hugged The Duchess and chatted animatedly to The Prince.
The Prince and The Duchess then visited the Association for New Canadians English language school in St John's where they toured the classrooms and chatted to students from across the globe who had travelled to Canada seeking a better life.
Canada is a country which welcomes around 75,000 refugees every year, with about 155 sent to the community of St John's.
The Association for New Canadians, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, first began helping settlers to adapt to life in the country in response to the arrival of Vietnamese refugees.
Today 50 experienced staff, supported by more than 100 volunteers, deliver a range of programmes for new immigrants, from language lessons to employment classes.
In the crèche, used by parents learning English, The Prince and The Duchess crouched down to speak to the young children and The Duchess received a posy from four-year-old Yara.
The Prince was left smiling when Cendresa Kelmendi, four, from Kosovo, marched up and told him: "I've seen you on TV."
When he asked Yara Aburamadan, four, who had presented him with a card for his forthcoming 61st birthday next week, when her birthday was, she replied "tomorrow" to laughter from the group.
Before leaving, TRH joined the school's choir in singing a song about love and unity.
The Royal Tour party then flew to Toronto where, as Patron of Canadian Business for Social Responsibility, The Prince attended a reception and round table discussion with Canadian business leaders.
Afterwards, His Royal Highness attended an event for The Heritage Canada Foundation where he presented The Prince of Wales Award.
The Duchess enjoyed a visit to the city’s Royal Conservatory of Music where she toured the facility, met students and listened to a performance.
TRH finished the day by attending a reception hosted by the Province of Ontario.
Watch a short film about the day’s events below: