Tomorrow, the City of Toronto will commemorate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty The Queen with the raising of the Canadian Coronation Flag and ceremonial planting of an oak tree at Coronation Park along the shore of Lake Ontario.
Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie (Scarborough-Rouge Park) will be joined by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, for this special occasion. The ceremony will include an offering of tobacco to the land, following Indigenous knowledge and practice, which considers tobacco one of the four sacred medicines connecting people to nature and one another. The tobacco comes from the City’s Treaty Partner, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
Notably, the ceremony follows the designation of the oak tree as Toronto’s Official Tree and arboreal emblem almost a year ago: www.toronto.ca/city-government/awards-tributes/tributes/city-of-toronto-symbols.
In honouring the historical event, Toronto Archives has launched an online archival exhibit entitled “Toronto Remembers the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.” The exhibit captures glimpses of the City’s celebrations during the Queen’s 1953 Coronation: www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/online-exhibits/web-exhibits/web-exhibits-culture-people/toronto-remembers-the-coronation-of-elizabeth-ii.
On May 6 and 7, the Toronto Sign on Nathan Phillips Square, the Princes’ Gates at Exhibition Place and other landmarks across Canada will be lit emerald green to mark the occasion as part of the National Illumination Initiative: www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/coronation-his-majesty-king-canada/celebrate.html. The green colour, seen on the Canadian Coronation Emblem and represented by the oak tree, is associated with the environment, a cause long championed by His Majesty: www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/coronation-his-majesty-king-canada/emblem.html.
Information for media
On Saturday, May 6, Deputy Mayor McKelvie and the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell will plant an oak tree to mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.
Date: Saturday, May 6
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Location: Coronation Park, 711 Lake Shore Blvd. W. (www.toronto.ca/data/parks/prd/facilities/complex/467/index.html). The tree planting site is right by the park’s entrance at the foot of Strachan Avenue, by the small flag pole.
Quotes
“Across the Commonwealth, and here in Canada, plans are underway to memorialize His Majesty’s Coronation, given its significance in history. The Coronation is an opportunity to learn about His Majesty and to appreciate his strong relationship with Canada, which spans more than 50 years. The City will honour the crowning of our nation’s Head of State by raising the Canadian Coronation Flag and planting an oak tree in Coronation Park, which is particularly appropriate given the King’s long-standing commitment and contributions towards protecting the environment.”
– Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie (Scarborough-Rouge Park)
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