2024 began as it traditionally does at Government House, with the annual New Year’s Day Levee. Their Honours were hosting the Levee for the first time, and enjoyed meeting so many visitors.
Throughout the year, Their Honours attend many events, meetings, and ceremonies in addition to the constitutional duties carried out by the Lieutenant Governor. These duties include the granting of Royal Assent to orders-in-council and bills passed by the legislature, for swearing in new Members of The House of Assembly, and administering oaths to Cabinet Ministers.
While so many incredible events occurred during 2024, below is a summary of some of the highlights.
During January, Their Honours awarded the Governor General’s Exemplary Service Medal on behalf of Governor General Mary Simon, recognizing exceptional service by first responders.
They also recognized long service and special awards for the CLB. Supporting the service of those who wear a uniform for our country is so important, and Their Honours visited 5 Canadian Division Support Base St. John’s to thank CAF members for everything they do for our province and Canada.
February brings White Cane Week in Newfoundland and Labrador, and a proclamation was issued to that effect. Government House recognizes special days, weeks, and months throughout the year by lighting in different colours, and by providing messages to raise awareness of important causes and milestones.
In February we also marked Black History Month, and followed it up with a reception celebrating that Black history, culture, and community in mid-March. Special guests and performers made it a wonderful event.
2024 was The Year of The Arts in Newfoundland and Labrador, and Government House held numerous events to recognize our arts community. Along with ArtsNL, Their Honours hosted the 2023 BMO Winterset Awards Ceremony at Government House. March is also the month in which we celebrate the many cultures that exist within our province, and Their Honours attended the annual Sharing our Cultures event at The Rooms to speak with students from diverse backgrounds. Also in March, Their Honours had the privilege to attend a Community Service Award ceremony with the Eating Disorder Foundation of NL. Her Honour is honorary patron of Easter Seals NL, and this month she hosted the launch of the 2024 Easter Seals campaign.
In April, Their Honours attended an event to commemorate the 229th anniversary of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. The Regiment is a historic unit and the Lieutenant Governor is honoured to serve as Honorary Colonel of the Regiment. They also attended the People of the Sea service in Portugal Cove St. Phillip’s, recognizing our shared ocean heritage, and the perils faced by people who make their living at sea.
Later in the spring, Their Honours were proud and humbled to accompany the delegation from Newfoundland and Labrador to France for the repatriation of an Unknown Soldier of Newfoundland. They visited First World War sites including Beaumont Hamel, and watched as a bearer party from France formally turned over our Unknown Soldier to a party from the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. It was a powerful and meaningful moment in which a son of Newfoundland, lost so many years ago, began his journey home.
Also in May, Government House hosted the Annual General Meeting of NONIA, a tradition dating back many years as NONIA was first founded at Government House in 1920. A statue marking the 100th anniversary of NONIA sits outside on the grounds.
May also saw an awards ceremony for the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires, and for The Manning Awards, celebrating our built heritage.
Government House also hosted a reception marking 50 years of women in the RCMP. It was a honour to meet so many of those trailblazing women, including some of the first women in our province to join the force.
June brings Public Service Week in our province. Government House hosted the 2024 winners of the Public Service Award of Excellence for a celebration of everything they do for the people of the province. Later in June, outstanding teachers were hosted at Government House to celebrate those receiving the 2024 Award for Innovation in Teaching and Award for Compassion in teaching.
Volunteers from around the province were invited to Government House, along with representatives of the Community Sector Council NL, to celebrate and recognize the work of volunteers in Newfoundland and Labrador. Volunteers are the foundation on which our communities are built, and we are very thankful for the work they do for us all.
In mid-June Their Honours joined the Ambassador of Spain at Harbourside park for the unveiling of a memorial to those lost on the Villa de Pitanxo, a Spanish ship that sank off the coast of Newfoundland in February 2022.
Also in June, Their Honours traveled to Ottawa to meet with The Governor General, Lieutenant Governors and Territorial Commissioners. It was an opportunity to learn from each other and share reflections on their shared duties in representing the Crown.
Each year, the Newfoundland and Labrador Youth Parliament meets in the House of Assembly to debate issues of the day. This year, His Honour delivered the throne speech to open the Youth Parliament session.
On the last day of June, Their Honours attended the annual Royal Newfoundland Regiment Beaumont Hamel Commemorative Dinner, marking the night before the Battle of Beaumont Hamel in which so many young lives were lost. They also attended the lying-in-state of our Unknown Soldier.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, July begins with a day devoted to both remembrance and celebration. The morning is Memorial Day, and Their Honours attended the National War Memorial for a ceremony not only of remembrance, but one marking the 100th anniversary of the Memorial, and the reinterment of our Unknown Soldier, who has come home after so long away. In his anonymity, he could be any of those lost in the First World War, and so he rests there to represent them all.
The afternoon of July 1 means celebrating the country Newfoundland and Labrador joined 75 years ago. Their Honours joined Governor General Mary Simon at Alderwood Estates in Witless Bay to celebrate Canada with the residents and staff.
The following night, Their Honours attended a reception with the Governor General at which a number of remarkable Newfoundlanders and Labradorians were invested into the Order of Canada.
There were two garden parties in July, both an opportunity to meet new people, celebrate the season, and our province. This year Their Honours hosted their first garden party in Deer Lake and celebrated western Newfoundland hospitality with residents and visitors. This was followed by the annual garden party on the grounds of Government House in St. John’s. The largest number of people in recent memory attended the St. John’s garden party.
Another long-standing tradition in St. John’s, and one that begins the month of August, is the annual Royal St. John’s Regatta. Her Honour was the starter for one of the morning races and toured lakeside speaking with other people attending this historic sporting and community event.
Their Honours traveled to Eastport following the Regatta to attend Winterset in Summer, a multi-day celebration of arts in our province. While in Eastport, they welcomed an opportunity to meet with local Shriners, and to visit the Harold W. Duffett Shriners RV Park.
A celebration of youth followed, at the closing ceremonies of the 2024 Newfoundland and Labrador Summer Games in Bay Roberts. The spirit of the athletes was high, and Their Honours congratulated organizers and participants on a very successful games.
The summer also saw the first use of the community room at the new Government House greenhouse. As part of this new facility, a community room is available for community-based groups to use to enhance their own programming. Collaboration with multiple organizations took place during these months and plans for expanded use are under development for 2025.
In late August, The Lieutenant Governor was invested into the Order of St. John at a ceremony at The Anglican Cathedral. The Order is often better known by one of its chief activities, St. John Ambulance.
In September, the latest class of RNC Cadets were sworn in as officers. As Honorary Chief of Police for the RNC, Her Honour attended the graduation, then hosted the new officers and special guests at a tree planting the next day at Government House to honour the RNC Mounted Unit which shares space on Government House grounds.
Also this month, Their Honours attended a service to mark the Battle of Britain, and an event to thank people in our province for rendering aid during the search for the Titan, the submersible craft that was lost at sea in June 2023.
This year, Canada announced medals to commemorate the coronation of King Charles III. These medals are intended for Canadians who have made significant contributions to our province and communities. This month saw a ceremony to award the first of those medals to deserving residents.
In late September, Their Honours hosted a Gardening & Wellness workshop in the Government House greenhouse, along with Lifewise NL and other partners. The group spoke of peer support and mental health, and engaged in a therapeutic planting session.
In the leadup to National Truth and Reconciliation Day, Government House hosted a screening of Noel Joe’s film, “The Forgotten Warriors,” a powerful and impactful piece about the recent history and struggle for recognition by Mi’kmaq people in our province.
The highest honour our province has to give is the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador. In a ceremony in October, Her Honour, as Chancellor of the Order, invested new recipients into the Order. Recipients of the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador are among our best, and set an example for others to follow.
In November Their Honours hosted an award ceremony for the College of the North Atlantic, and on behalf of the Governor General, awarded exceptional students the Governor General Academic Medal.
While remembrance occurs throughout the year, November 11 is an important date to mark our shared appreciation for the sacrifices of our armed forces. Their Honours attended the annual ceremony at the National War Memorial in St. John’s, now with the presence of our Unknown Soldier. They also attended the Uniformed Services Gala, honoring all those who wear a uniform in the service of our communities, our province, and our country.
In mid-November Her Honour was very privileged to welcome a group of new Canadians to our country, as they took their oaths of citizenship at Government House.
Also in November, Their Honours travelled to the United Kingdom. While there they were honoured to have audience with His Majesty King Charles III, and a separate audience with Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.
Their Honours also visited with students at Beatrix Potter School. These students tend the graves of 17 Royal Newfoundland Regiment soldiers, and one nurse, whose final resting place is in London. It is an act of remembrance that reminds us that remembrance is not just for Remembrance Day, and that we must always remember the price of peace.
Also in the United Kingdom, Their Honours visited the Harlow Campus of Memorial University to meet with students and staff, and to attend the unveiling of an art exhibit dedicated to remembrance.
2024 marked the 75th anniversary of Newfoundland and Labrador becoming a province of Canada. To mark the occasion, a medal was created by the province to honor people who have made great contributions to the province. In November Their Honours held a ceremony to award this medal to deserving Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
As the holiday season began, Their Honours welcomed people to Government House for the lighting of the trees and the House.
Throughout the festive season, her Honour visited long term care homes in the Northeast Avalon to extend best wishes, to talk to seniors and thank them for all they do for our province, and to thank the incredible staff and caregivers at these homes.
As 2024 drew to a close, Their Honours and Government House made preparations to welcome people to the New Year’s Day Levee once again to celebrate the arrival of a new year. We hope you will join us at Government House on January 1, 2026 to welcome another new year.