Notice

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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Public event for May 17, 2008

May 16, 2008
Ottawa, Ontario

Public event for Prime Minister Stephen Harper for Saturday, May 17th is:

Québec City

7:30 p.m. – Prime Minister Stephen Harper will attend the International Ice Hockey Federation Gala.

Room 400BC
Centre des Congrès de Quebec
900 René-Lévesque Boulevard East
Québec City, Québec
G1R 2B5

Please note the following:

Print media will be positioned in a media room with an in-house camera screen.

Photo-opportunity for photographers only.

TV Crew will need to get their images from TSN/RDS, the official Host Broadcaster for the IIHF Tournament.

Media are asked to register with Szymon Szemberg - Communications Director for the IIHF.

*Open to Media*

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
[Note: You are receiving this e-mail for information only, and because you have subscribed to our distribution list. To modify your subscription or to have your name removed from the list, go to: (http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/subscribe.asp?login)]

News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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GOVERNOR GENERAL AND PRIME MINISTER UNVEIL CANADA'S VICTORIA CROSS

PM HAILS NATION'S HIGHEST MILITARY DECORATION AS NOW 'TRULY CANADIAN'

May 16, 2008
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Governor General Michaëlle Jean today unveiled Canada's newly minted Victoria Cross medal at a formal ceremony at Rideau Hall.

Until now the Victoria Cross, Canada's highest military decoration, was minted in Britain. All future medals awarded to Canadians will be minted in Canada. Though the design is faithful to the original design commissioned by Queen Victoria in 1856, Canada's Victoria Cross includes a number of small but significant Canadian design and content features. "Today the Victoria Cross becomes fully, truly Canadian," Prime Minister Harper said.

The original inscription, "For Valour," has been changed to the Latin "Pro Valore," on Canada's Victoria Cross. "We are using the ancient language employed by our English and French ancestors to express the universal ideal that they shared," said the Prime Minister. Other uniquely Canadian elements include metal from the 1867 Confederation medal, as well as metals from each of Canada's regions.

Ninety-four Canadians have won the Victoria Cross for displaying extraordinary courage, endurance and sacrifice in battle. The last living recipient, Second World War veteran Smoky Smith, died just over a year ago.

Every day, in military missions at home and abroad, Canadian soldiers, sailors and airmen are putting their lives on the line for us", said Prime Minister Harper. "Someday, somewhere, one of those men or women will do something so brave, so gallant, so exceptional, that he or she will join the legendary cadre of the Canadian Forces who wear the pride of a nation on their chests".

Canada's Victoria Cross was produced through a collaboration of the Departments of National Defence, Veterans Affairs, and Natural Resources, the Royal Canadian Mint and Rideau Hall.

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
[Note: You are receiving this e-mail for information only, and because you have subscribed to our distribution list. To modify your subscription or to have your name removed from the list, go to: (http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/subscribe.asp?login)]