Queen Elizabeth was ‘constant presence’ in Canadians’ lives, Trudeau says
Longest-serving monarch of Canada will be mourned by Canadians ‘in each of our own ways,’ Gov. Gen. Mary Simon says
Queen Elizabeth does a walkabout in Iqaluit during the last royal visit to Nunavut, in October 2002. The Queen died Thursday. (File photo)
Queen Elizabeth — described by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a “constant presence in our lives” — died Thursday, prompting an outpouring of condolences for Canada’s longest-serving monarch.
She was 96 and had served 70 years as Queen of Canada.
“It was with the heaviest of hearts that we learned of the passing of Canada’s longest-reigning Sovereign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” Trudeau wrote in a message posted on Twitter.
“She was a constant presence in our lives – and her service to Canadians will forever remain an important part of our country’s history.”
Tributes from Canadian and world leaders began circulating on social media minutes after news broke of her death.
Premier P.J. Akeeagok paid tribute to the Queen’s legacy of service, calling her “an iconic figure” in Canada’s history.
“While the relationship between Inuit and the Crown has not always been easy, Her Majesty has been long respected by our elders.”
Akeeagok recapped Elizabeth’s connection to Nunavut, including a 1970 visit to Iqaluit, then known as Frobisher Bay. When she visited again in 2002, three years after the creation of Nunavut, the Queen spoke in the legislature, even using a few words of Inuktitut.
Nunavut’s Speaker of the legislative assembly, Tony Akoak, released a statement expressing the “profound sorrow” of the territory’s MLAs, adding “we are united in grief.”
Flags around the legislature in Iqaluit were lowered to half-mast on Thursday and a book of condolences will be made available on Friday for Nunavummiut to sign, Akoak said.
Gov. Gen. Mary Simon added her own tribute in a statement.
“Canadians across the country will mourn the loss of the Queen. Let us take a moment to honour Her Majesty’s memory in each of our own ways,” Simon wrote in a tweet.
Simon, the Queen’s representative in Canada and first Indigenous person to hold the position of Governor General, also offered condolences to the Royal Family.
Statements from world leaders included one from the Queen’s son, Charles, whose message came with the headline “From His Majesty The King at the time of the Queen’s death.”
Charles, the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth and her late husband Prince Philip, assumed the throne upon his mother’s death.
Charles honoured his “beloved Mother” and called it a “moment of the greatest sadness for “all members of my family.”
“We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother,” Charles wrote.
The Royal Family will take comfort knowing of the “respect and deep affections in which The Queen was so widely held,” he said.
News of Queen Elizabeth’s death is a breaking news story. Nunatsiaq News will update this story and have other coverage.
I had the honour of seeing the Queen during her visit here in 2002. What I remember most was her tremendous resilience in continuing to steadfastly meet and greet the public under less than ideal weather conditions without ever batting an eye or outwardly showing any discomfort. God bless her soul
God bless her Majesty !!!!
Who cares!
Why are you here?
Cause I can, and it sure ain’t the queens reason I’m here.
Question Igunaaqi, and I will quote Douglas Murray: “if you dismiss and denigrate my heritage and my ancestors, and my culture, what makes you think I have any moral obligation to respect yours?”
I really don’t care, I just don’t look up to the elites that don’t care for anyone but themselves.
Another colonizer gone. She supported the enslavement of our people and ignored the oppression and abuses we have endured .
Thank God , for the colonizers , they gave us toilet paper.
Tell us more about your ‘enslavement?
Yes you are so “enslaved” that here you are freely typing out your feelings with no fear of repercussion! Enslavement indeed!
Them “Colonizers” forced their way of lives upon us. And learnt how to read and write and depend on them. If that ain’t slavery, tell me otherwise.