Backgrounder

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

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Diamond Jubilee Medal

February 3, 2011
Ottawa, Ontario

In 2012, Canadians will celebrate the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the throne. This is the second Sovereign Diamond Jubilee in Canadian history. The first Diamond Jubilee, in 1897, honoured the 60th anniversary of Queen Victoria's accession.

On February 3, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Governor General David Johnston unveiled the designs of the Diamond Jubilee Medal and emblem which will be part of the 2012 celebrations. Her Majesty The Queen of Canada acceded to the throne on February 6, 1952.

The Diamond Jubilee Medal will be awarded in 2012, the Diamond Jubilee Year, to Canadians who have exemplified outstanding service to their communities and nation.

The front of the Diamond Jubilee Medal portrays a contemporary effigy of The Queen wearing the Royal Crown. The reverse of the medal includes stylized maple leaves and the years 1952 and 2012, denoting 60 years of Her Majesty's reign as Queen of Canada.

The Diamond Jubilee emblem, which will be the official symbol used to commemorate Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee, symbolizes The Queen's service to Canada by placing the Royal Cypher (The Queen's monogram) in a garland of maple leaves.

Over the years, Her Majesty has had more than 20 Royal Tours to Canada – more than any other Commonwealth country – including her most recent tour in the summer of 2010. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh first toured Canada in the fall of 1951, where they were greeted in Toronto by an estimated 500,000 people. Five decades later, Canadians turned out in record numbers to greet The Queen during Golden Jubilee celebrations in Canada in 2002.

For Diamond Jubilee Medal design and emblem please visit: http://pm.gc.ca/grfx/docs/jubilee.pdf

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