His Excellency, the Right Honourable Vincent Massey, Governor General of Canada being welcomed to Yorkton by His Worship Mayor Dr. M.C. Novak, on the 18th of May 1955. Inspector H.C. Forbes A.D.C.(Aide-de-camp) is seen standing behind the Governor General. Others on the station platform: Mrs. Novak behind the Mayor, on the left Mrs. H.C. Forbes, then City Clerk Howard Jackson, Colonel H.M. Bailey, Lieutenant Colonel F. Steele, and Lieutenant Colonel A.T.P. Gilbert. A reception was held at Dr. Brass School, and a dinner at the Yorkton Armouries.
From www.gg.ca Archives: Governor General: 1952 - 1959 Appointed: February 1, 1952
Sworn In: February 28, 1952, Ottawa. Born: February 20, 1887, Toronto, Ontario. Died: December 30, 1967. He was the first Canadian appointed to the post, and from that day the Governor General has always been a Canadian citizen. Vincent Massey believed that the Crown belonged to Canadians. He combined a respect for the Crown and its ceremonies with a commitment to using the Office of Governor General to promote Canadian unity and identity. He visited every corner of the country, by plane or ship, canoe or dog team. Mr. Massey's speeches often praised Canada's cultural diversity, and he emphasized the need to learn both English and French. Whether he was speaking to the Jewish Congress, being honoured by the Blood First Nation in Alberta, or visiting fishing villages in the Maritimes. Encouraging the arts was one of Mr. Massey's noteworthy achievements. His promotion of a national festival of the arts began a movement that eventually led to the founding of the National Arts Centre. At Rideau Hall, he established writer's weekends to help create a Canadian literary identity.
Source of photo: H. Jackson Collection
Contact Terri Lefebvre Prince,
Heritage Researcher,
City of Yorkton, Box 400
37 Third Avenue North
Yorkton, Sask. S3N 2W3
306-786-1722
historian@yorkton.ca
