Today, Saskatchewan Lieutenant Governor Russ Mirasty visited with King Charles at Buckingham Palace.
During their visit, King Charles was given two gifts: a beaded medallion depicting the Lieutenant Governor’s crest, created by Cathy Lavallee from the Lac La Ronge Indian Band and a donation to the Embracing Life Initiative.
EL is a coalition of agencies, tribal councils, and grassroots community youth mentors whose purpose is to reduce incidents of self-harm and suicide among northern Saskatchewan youths.
The EL initiative was created in 2013–14 when the Saskatchewan Government directed $221,000 to 17 community projects under the theme Embracing Life. Embracing Life has had representation from many different groups, with some of the most active being the Prince Albert Grand Council, Saskatchewan Health Authority, Children North Early Childhood Intervention Program, the Saskatchewan Advocate for Children and Youth, ISC, Northern Lights School Division, Ministries of Education, Justice and Government Relations, and New North.
“It was a great honour to meet with the King and to thank him for his service to Canada and to the Commonwealth. Donna and I were pleased to discuss our province with His Majesty and to extend congratulations and best wishes to him on behalf of the people of Saskatchewan,” said Mirasty.
Traditionally, Canadian vice-regal representatives meet with the sovereign at the beginning of their term, but due to the pandemic and the death of Queen Elizabeth II, no such meeting took place.