After 11 years of bringing you local reporting, the team behind the Vancouver Observer has moved on to Canada's National Observer. You can follow Vancouver culture reporting over there from now on. Thank you for all your support over the years!
Prince and Kate do Canada
Prince William and Katie Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, are making their way across the pond to visit the former colony in approximately one week. While not exactly roughing it in the bush, the royal couple will canoe in the Northwest Territories, attend cultural performances in Prince Edward Island and participate in the Calgary Stampede. A street hockey game is thrown in the mix, too. Let's hope this one runs a bit more smoothly.
William, Kate to take jet, float plane, frigate and canoe during Canadian tour
OTTAWA -- Prince William and his new bride Catherine will travel by passenger jet, bush plane, naval frigate and canoe as they tour Canada next month on their first official overseas trip since their April 29 wedding.
The royal couple will attend Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa, dragon boat races in Charlottetown, a street hockey game in Yellowknife and the Stampede Parade in Calgary during their nine-day visit.
William and Kate's official itinerary, just released, sets a busy pace for the young couple, beginning with their arrival in Ottawa June 30 and ending with their departure from Calgary July 8.
They'll also visit Quebec, where they'll tour a children's hospital in Montreal and attend a military ceremony in Quebec City.
In between, they'll spend a night aboard HMCS Montreal, a navy frigate, for a leisurely sail down the St. Lawrence River.
In Yellowknife, they'll board a float plane for the isolated native community of Blachford Lake, where they'll take a canoe ride before departing the Northwest Territories for the Calgary Stampede.
Detailed itinerary of Prince William and Kate's Canadian tour released
An itinerary of William and Kate's Canadian tour has been released. Some highlights:
Thursday, June 30
2 p.m. ET -- Arrive at Canada Reception Centre, Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport.
2:35 p.m. -- Arrive at National War Memorial for wreath-laying and book-signing; walkabout.
3:15 p.m. -- Arrive at Government House for official welcome to Canada ceremony; walkabout; speeches by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Gov. Gen. David Johnston; remarks by William.
6:00 p.m. -- Youth barbecue and reception in garden of Government House.
Friday, July 1
10:30 a.m. ET -- Arrive at Canadian Museum of Civilization for citizenship ceremony.
12:05 p.m. -- Arrive on Parliament Hill by landau for Canada Day show.
9 p.m. -- Arrive on Parliament Hill for Canada Day evening show.
Saturday, July 2
12:40 p.m. ET -- Tree planting at Government House.
1:10 p.m. -- Arrive at Canadian War Museum for reception with veterans, war brides and families; galleries walkthrough; painting-plaque unveiling.
2:45 p.m. -- Arrive at Ottawa Airport for departure.
3:50 p.m. -- Arrive at Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, Montreal.
4:15 p.m. -- Arrive at Sainte-Justine University (Children's) Hospital Centre; view displays; meet children and parents.
5:45 p.m. -- Arrive at Institut de Tourisme et d'hotellerie du Quebec; cooking workshop and reception.
9:55 p.m. -- Arrive at HMCS Montreal and depart for Quebec City.
Sunday, July 3
9 a.m. ET -- Arrive at Champlain Harbour Station, Quebec City.
10:00 a.m. -- Prayer service aboard HMCS Montreal.
11:10 a.m. -- Youth discussion, Maison Dauphine.
12:15 p.m. -- Freedom-of-the-city ceremony, Quebec City Hall.
1:00 p.m. -- Arrive at Citadelle.
3:30 p.m. -- Arrive at community event, Forts-de-Levis.
4:15 p.m. -- Arrive at Jean Lesage International Airport, Quebec City, for departure.
6:50 p.m. AT -- Arrive at Charlottetown Airport.
7:00 p.m. -- Informal media reception, Peake's Quay Restaurant.
Monday, July 4
10:05 a.m. AT -- Arrive at Province House, Charlottetown; tour; welcoming ceremony; remarks; walkabout.
11:00 a.m. -- Procession down Great George Street by open-top vehicle.
12:35 p.m. -- Waterbirding demonstration at Dalvay-by-the-Sea.
1:45 p.m. -- Dragon Boat race across Dalvay Lake; presentation to winning team; smudging ceremony; cultural performances and culinary stations; beach activities.
3:55 p.m. -- Arrive at Summerside; search-and-rescue demonstration; meet rescued survivors and families on dock.
5:05 p.m. -- Arrive at Summerside Airport for departure.
7:40 p.m. MT -- Arrive at Yellowknife Airport.
Tuesday, July 5
11:40 a.m. MT -- Arrive at Somba K'e Civic Plaza; prayer drum song; dance; remarks; demonstration of Dene games and Arctic sports; shrub-planting and plaque unveiling; street hockey.
1:05 p.m. -- Arrive at legislative assembly; session of Youth Parliament and reception.
3:00 p.m. -- Depart by float plane for Blachford Lake.
3:30 p.m. -- Arrive at Blachford Lake; event with Canadian Rangers; meets Dechinta students and elders; tours organic garden/greenhouses; medicine walk; roundfire discussion with students and elders; canoe.
Wednesday, July 6
10:05 a.m. MT -- Arrive at Yellowknife Airport for departure and retreat.
Thursday, July 7
4:30 p.m. MT -- Arrive at Calgary International Airport; white-hatting ceremony.
5:00 p.m. -- Arrive at 21st Century Research and Innovation Centre; tour.
7:25 p.m. -- Arrive at BMO Centre for a reception hosted by Prime Minister Stephen Harper; Calgary Stampede activities.
8:15 p.m. -- Speech.
Friday, July 8
8:30 a.m. MT -- Travel Calgary Stampede Parade route in reverse by car.
8:50 a.m. -- Arrive at Bow Valley College to officially launch Calgary Stampede Parade; watch parade.
11:30 a.m. -- Arrive at the ENMAX Conservatory/Calgary Zoo; tour environmental preservation displays; meet homeless youth privately; attend Alberta government reception.
12:45 p.m. -- Arrive at Challenger Rotary Park; wreath-laying.
1:30 p.m. -- Arrive at Calgary International Airport for departure to Los Angeles.
With files from The Canadian Press
More in Canada
Speak up about this article on Facebook or Twitter. Do this by liking Vancouver Observer on Facebook or following us @Vanobserver on Twitter. We'd love to hear from you.