By Jesse Robitaille
With this July’s instalment of Canada’s 30th Governor General, the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association (RCNA) is once again seeking a grant of patronage to continue using the “Royal” title in its name.
Canada’s national coin club was first granted royal patronage in 2006, when then Governor General Michaëlle Jean accepted an invitation from what was then known as the Canadian Numismatic Association (CNA) to serve as its honorary patron. A year later, Queen Elizabeth II approved the CNA’s use of the “Royal” title in its name. Since then, the RCNA has stood among prestigious company, including the Royal Canadian Mint, Royal Philatelic Society of Canada, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Royal Canadian Regiment.
“The Governor General of Canada is our patron, and our ability to call ourself ‘Royal’ in our name is due to the grant of patronage by the Governor General,” said RCNA Past President Bob Forbes at the association’s virtual annual general meeting (AGM) this July, when he concluded his two-year term. “We need to reapply for a grant of patronage in order to keep our ‘Royal’ name.”
The RCNA’s long-time Rideau Hall liaison officer Doug Andrews, who also stepped down from his post earlier this year, submitted the association’s latest patronage application before the July AGM.
Cassidy Stroud has since taken over the RCNA’s Rideau Hall liaison role.
THE NEW ‘GG’
Mary Simon, Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General, was sworn in on July 26.
“I have heard from Canadians who describe a renewed sense of possibility for our country and hope that I can bring people together,” Simon said during her inaugural address at the Senate chamber in Ottawa. “Every day, inside small community halls, school gyms, Royal Canadian Legions, places of worship and in thousands of community service organizations, there are ordinary Canadians doing extraordinary things. As Governor General, I will never lose sight of this – that our selflessness is one of our great strengths as a nation. I pledge to be there for all Canadians.”
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