For Immediate Release
May. 8, 2000, 4:00 p.m.
Hilary M. Weston On 1st Capital Day Celebrations
Everyone loves a parade, including the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Hilary M. Weston. City of Kingston and First Capital Day officials announced this morning that the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario has accepted an invitation to attend the Year 2000 First Capital Day Parade, slated for noon hour on Thursday, June 15th. According to Kingston Mayor Gary Bennett, the First Capital Day organizing committee were just "thrilled" when news arrived of the Lieutenant Governor accepting the invitation.
"We received confirmation that she would be attending late Friday afternoon. As you can imagine, the First Capital Day organizers were incredibly excited when told that she would be attending," said the Mayor.
"Having her attend the parade and participate in the celebrations really brings a new status to First Capital Day," added Mayor Bennett.
First Capital Day founding director Ian Milne thinks having the Honourable Hilary Weston in attendance will increase the profile of the First Capital considerably. "We are very fortunate that she has accepted our invitation - wherever she goes she draws big, big crowds".
And a crowd is what Milne wants to see on June 15th.
"The Capital parade departs from Frontenac County Courthouse at 12:00 noon on Thursday June 15th and makes its way to Kingston City Hall twenty minutes later. The parade will feature local and visiting schoolchildren, pipers, our Town Crier, carriages, and of course, the Honourable Hilary Weston as our special guest", he added. "We are extending an invitation to all Kingstonians to participate in the parade and make their way down to City Hall for the post parade ceremonies".
"We are also asking that teachers arrange for their school children to walk in the parade. Nearly 1000 schoolchildren participated last year - waving or wearing - red, white or blue. The more the merrier," he added enthusiastically.
The Kingston First Capital United Canada - 1841 Group, led by Ian Milne and local historian Margaret Angus obtained both federal and Ontario government official recognition of Kingston's status as the first capital of United Canada in late 1998. The group subsequently organized the first public celebration of the city's new status June 15, 1999 - First Capital Day.
Canada's first Governor General, Lord Sydenham, opened Canada's first Parliament June 15, 1841 in Kingston which served as the capital until 1844 when the government was briefly relocated to Montreal and, ultimately to Ottawa.
In addition to 'championing' official recognition for Kingston as First Capital of Canada, an honour awarded last year from both the Province and the Federal government, Milne and historian Margaret Angus assure that First Capital history is accurately depicted in all communications and public education initiatives.
First Capital Day is a community partnership event initiated by the First Capital Group and made possible with the assistance of the Mayo's Office, Events and Programs Unit and many other City of Kingston staff.
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Media contact information:
Gary Bennett, Mayor, City of Kingston 613-546-4291 ext. 1400
Ian Milne, Founding Director First Capital Day Committee, 613-544-4447
