Visit of the Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker of the Senate, and a Parliamentary Delegation, United Kingdom

From November 22 to 23, 2014, the Speaker of the Senate, the Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, led a delegation on an official visit to the United Kingdom. The delegation was composed of Mr. Gary W. O’Brien, Clerk of the Senate and Clerk of the Parliaments and Superintendent J. Greg Peters, M.V.O, Usher of the Black Rod. Accompanying the delegation was Ms. Janelle Feldstein, Chief of Staff of the Speaker of the Senate.

Speaker Kinsella had the highest honour of being granted an audience with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada. During the audience, Her Majesty bestowed a Chain of Office on the Usher of the Black Rod. The Speaker then presented a portfolio to Her Majesty providing evidence of the recognition of the Crown’s enduring importance and, most especially, the abiding affection that has developed between Canada and its Sovereign over the years of Her Majesty’s reign. Additionally, the Clerk of the Senate and Clerk of the Parliaments presented Her Majesty with a book entitled: Parliamentary Treasures: A Glimpse Inside the Archives of the Senate of Canada. Speaker Kinsella and the delegation also attended the Evensong in the Edward IV Chantry at St. George’s Chapel and The Right Reverend David Conner, K.C.V.O., Dean of Windsor, dedicated and blessed the Chain of Office.

The main objective of the visit to England was to strengthen relations with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada and the Monarchy and to offer Speaker Kinsella the opportunity to bid farewell to Her Majesty prior to his upcoming retirement as Speaker of the Senate and Senator. The events also entrenched the historic role of the Usher of the Black Rod within the Parliament of Canada, and to a greater extent the Monarchy.