LONDON –
Governor-General Mary Simon, who met with Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday for Her Majesty’s platinum jubilee, says she felt like she was visiting someone she knew and someone she cared about.
“I’ve probably been following her all my life,” Simon told Lisa LaFlamme, news director and senior editor at CTV National News.
“I can remember when she was older, my grandmother used to have a picture of her and she was revered in the Arctic.”
Simon arrived in London, England, just before the lighthouse lit up at Canada House, one of thousands lit across the UK and the Commonwealth to commemorate the Queen’s 70th year on the throne.
With her husband, Whit Fraser, Simon will be staying all weekend to attend other Jubilee events, including a Thanksgiving service on Friday, which the queen will skip due to “some inconvenience,” according to the palace. of Buckingham.
Read the full transcript of CTV National News’ conversation with Simon below, which has been edited for grammar and clarity.
Lisa LaFlamme: First of all, it’s a pleasure to talk to you, and especially on such a historic day. What does it mean to you to have met the Queen to see this celebration?
Governor General Mary Simon: I am very pleased that this is happening and that Her Majesty can experience it. I think it’s just a wonderful tribute to the 70 years of reign he has had in the UK. And also, being the Queen’s Representative in Canada is very important to my work, and it is also very significant for many Canadians.
Lisa LaFlamme: Sure she is, and I think it’s interesting that she’s known as the first feminist in some way, and I wonder what you think after meeting her face to face. Did it surprise you? Was that what you expected?
Mary Simon: When I met her, she was very, very kind and very, you know, we had a good talk, like sitting in the afternoon and talking about all the different things that are going on around the world. And she was very involved in those discussions. So there were two things: one, she was very welcoming and made us feel very welcome in her home. And also that she is so cunning and is still very committed to what is happening. So both things are very important for someone like her to be able to introduce her to the world, really.
Lisa LaFlamme: And for so long, yes.
Mary Simon: And for so long.
Lisa LaFlamme: Have you had a discussion with her about the Indigenous issue in Canada and whether there should be an apology from the Queen herself?
Mary Simon: No, that issue didn’t come up then. So it was not part of our discussion. We talked about the residential schools and the no-sign graves that have been found. And she felt, you know, really bad about it, and she really wanted things to work out for everyone. So that’s how much we talked about this topic, but I did talk to her about the work I’m doing on reconciliation, the job I’m going to do over the next year in my term is bring in Canadians and Indigenous Canadians. , from all over the country and the Arctic, to have these discussions where we can get to know each other, be able to live together and give each other space, and have equal opportunities and education, work … all that space that needs respect for the racism we have experienced to begin to disappear. So there is a lot of work to be done, but we have to start. That is, it has already happened and we will be even more involved.
Lisa LaFlamme: And that’s the kind of conversation you had with Her Majesty.
Mary Simon: Yes.
Lisa LaFlamme: Were you surprised that she was so conscious and committed?
Mary Simon: No, I wasn’t really surprised. I probably followed her all my life. I remember when I was older, my grandmother used to have a picture of her and she was revered in the Arctic. And he was telling us about the queen, you know, who was the highest order on earth. I have always had a very strong interest in his work. So it was really like, I guess what I felt was, I felt like I was visiting someone I knew. And he was also visiting someone he cared about. So, you know, they’re just talking about these issues together. And he laughed a few times: My husband is a good narrator.
Lisa LaFlamme: I feel like she has a wonderful sense of humor.
Mary Simon: Yes, she does.
Lisa LaFlamme: But imagine what your grandmother, who had that picture with the queen all her childhood, and your mother, first of all, your role as a representative in Canada, and who has come to a jubilee of platinum.
Mary Simon: Yes, exactly. I just wish my parents were still alive and my grandmother was the one who really talked a lot about her, and they were so proud of what was going on.
Lisa LaFlamme: Why was it important for you to see here? You just arrived today. What motivated you?
Mary Simon: I’m really excited about the Platinum Jubilee event because I think it really shows that the country cares and that we recognize the importance of what it’s done as a world leader. And I think for me, as your representative in Canada, I think it’s very important for me to make the connection and be here.
Lisa LaFlamme: Now that we’ve learned that the queen won’t be there tomorrow (Friday), how do you care about her well-being? I mean, just seeing their mobility.
Mary Simon: I was fine when I saw her. He was still recovering from his pandemic COVID. But it was getting stronger. And when I saw her this morning, you know, making a gesture to all the people who were here, she looked so pretty. It absolutely radiated, and this is its moment. He has to take it with him and be very proud of what he has done.
Lisa LaFlamme: How do you think she inspired you?
Mary Simon: She inspired me for so many years. I probably also went through a difficult time, when I was young and the only woman in many organizations and in discussions at board meetings. It took many years before she could be just part of the crowd, so to speak, and the acceptance that even though she was a woman, she could still do the job as well as anyone else. I think role models like Her Majesty really help you stay strong and focused and resolve what you think is important. That’s what I did. I was also very moved by the love he showed for his family, his grandchildren, his children. She talked about them and expressed how important they were to her. And it was a family, you know, it was a family I was proud of, that I loved. And he talked about it, which was very nice.
Lisa LaFlamme: Was that in your private conversation with her?
Mary Simon: Yes.
Lisa LaFlamme: That must have been very powerful. I mean, there must have been a time when you thought, “I’m talking to the queen, the queen is talking to me about her children.” Was there some kind of that weird moment?
Mary Simon: Yes, it was. And also, just the fact that he mentioned each of his children, not just one or two, but all of them, and mentioned them all in his own way. And it made me realize even more that she is very human.