Celebrating The Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

The City invites places of worship and buildings with bells or carillons to join in celebrating the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as the clock tower bell in Historic City Hall tolls at noon on June 2.  

“On her 70th anniversary of accession to the throne, Calgary congratulates Her Majesty The Queen and celebrates her achievements over seven decades,” said Mayor Jyoti Gondek.

Queen Elizabeth is the longest reigning British monarch in history, surpassing the previous record-holder, her great-great-grandmother Victoria, in 2015.

Calgary joins the British Commonwealth in its celebrations June 2 to 5 and is marking the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in several ways:

• Tree and flower bed planting and commemorative plaque have been installed at Confederation Park – Part of the Queen’s Green Canopy Initiative – Plant a Tree for the Jubilee.
• City Archives display Queen Elizabeth II and Calgary’s Royal Connection viewable at the Municipal Building Atrium through June (and online) - memorabilia from the last 70 years.
• Lighting on June 2 of Calgary buildings and landmarks in the regal colour of purple, including Arts Commons, Olympic Plaza, Calgary Tower, Stephen Avenue Galleria Trees, and Telus Spark building.
• Acknowledgement in Council Chambers June 7, 9:30 a.m. (watch online).

Princess Elizabeth’s accession to monarch took place in February 1952 upon the death of her father, King George VI. She was 25 years of age.

She was crowned Queen at her coronation on June 2, 1953, at Westminster Abbey, the setting for every coronation since 1066. The Queen’s coronation was the first ever to be broadcast live on television.

Three million people also lined the processional route from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace, waiting to see The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh as they rode by in the Gold State Coach pulled by eight grey gelding horses.

Throughout her reign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has witnessed social, political, and history-defining moments including astronaut Neil Armstrong landing on the moon; a cold war; and women becoming heads of state and priests. She has always been eager to adopt modern ways for the crown, including a first-time casual walk-about in 1970 where she greeted crowds in person rather than waving from a motorcade.

To learn about the Platinum Jubilee, visit royal.uk/platinumjubilee