Canadian Heritage
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The Queen in Canada
For centuries, French and British monarchs reigned over Canada.
As a constitutional monarch, The Queen no longer "rules" the country. However, as Head of State, she remains a fundamental part of Canada's system of government and our sense of identity.
The Queen's representatives
Many of the Queen's duties are carried out by the Governor General and the Lieutenant Governors of the Provinces.
In 1947, "Letters Patent Constituting the Office of the Governor General of Canada" (under King George VI) authorized the Governor General to exercise the Crown's powers on behalf of the Sovereign. This meant the Governor General could act for the Crown in Canada, on the advice of Ministers, without having to refer matters to the Sovereign.
Queen of Canada
Queen Elizabeth II was the first of Canada's sovereigns to be named Queen of Canada.
In 1953, a Canadian law, the Royal Style and Titles Act, formally conferred upon Elizabeth II the title of Queen of Canada.
Her Majesty was proclaimed in Canada with these words: "By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom, Canada and her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith."
Queen Elizabeth II became the first monarch to be separately proclaimed Sovereign of Canada. The proclamation reaffirmed the new monarch's position as Queen of Canada, a role independent of that as Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms.
The Queen's role
As the living embodiment of the Crown, Her Majesty unites all Canadians in allegiance and gives a collective sense of belonging to the country.
New Canadians swear allegiance to The Queen, so do Members of Parliament and the Legislatures, military and police officers.
In our daily lives, The Queen is a symbol of national identity. We see Her Majesty's image on our currency and stamps. And we hear the Crown's name in reference to new laws, royal commissions, the Court of Queen's Bench, Crown lands, as well as the Queen's Privy Council for Canada or Crown corporations.
Canadian Heritage Resources
A Crown of Maples: Constitutional Monarchy in Canada
Other Resources
The official website of the British Monarchy
Archived Web Resources
Golden Jubilee: A Canadian Celebration
"One of the strongest and most valued assets of the Crown is the stability and continuity it can bring from the past into the present. My mother once said that this country felt like a 'home away from home' for the Queen of Canada. Ladies and gentlemen, six decades later, it still does and it is good to be back."
Queen Elizabeth II
Regina, Saskatchewan
May 2005
