Speeches at the Unveiling and Dedication Ceremony for the Ruth Abernethy Sculpture Entitled Holding Court — Canada Day 2015
John A. star of the day in Picton
By Bruce Bell
The Kingston Whig-Standard
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
“It was a birthday party of epic proportions as thousands of people celebrated Canada’s birthday throughout Prince Edward County. The star of the day without question was the nation’s first Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald who came home to join the party.”
Programme of Events for July 1, 2015
Dedication and Unveiling Ceremony
Ruth Abernethy’s Holding Court
Armoury Square, Picton, 2015
Dedication
• Prince Edward County Pipe and Drum Band
• Master of Ceremony Opening Remarks
• O Canada led by Jeanette Arsenault
• Justice Robert Sharpe – Macdonald and Canada’s Constitution
• Treasurer and CEO Janet Minor Law Society of Upper Canada– Macdonald on Women’s Rights and
the Connection with the Law Society
• R.H. Thomson — Wilfrid Laurier’s Speech, House of Common June 8, 1891
• Sir John A. Macdonald
• Master of Ceremony Introduction to the Unveiling
Unveiling of Holding Court
• Portrait Artist, Ruth Abernethy
• Member of Parliament for Hastings and Prince Edward, Daryl Kramp
• Treasurer of the Law Society, Janet Minor
• Mayor of Prince Edward, Robert Quaiff
• Chair of the Macdonald Project, David Warrick
Presentation of Holding Court
Ceremonial gift of Ruth Abernethy’s Holding Court from The Macdonald Project to the
Corporation of the County of Prince Edward
(Chair Warrick and Mayor Quaiff)
This Is My Canada by Jeanette Arsenault while photo ops taking place
1. Dignitaries and special guests
2. Macdonald Steering Committee
MC announces free showing of Rocky Mountain Express at the Regent
Introduced by Stephen Low, Director and Cinematographer showing one of the greatest engineering feats of all time,
the building of a nearly impossible transcontinental railway.
Mayor’s Speech and Birthday Cake to Begin Celebrations
End of ceremony
****
Made possible through the generous donations of friends of Macdonald and the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage.
