OTTAWA — Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, will visit St. John’s, N.L., Ottawa and the Yellowknife area during a whirlwind three-day tour of Canada in May that will focus on Indigenous reconciliation and climate change, Clarence House and the Canadian government announced Tuesday.
The detailed itinerary released online outlines a packed schedule filled with military ceremonies, meetings with Indigenous communities, plaque unveilings and stops at local businesses.
“The Prince of Wales has long believed that we need to learn from Indigenous peoples around the world how better we should live in and care for nature and the planet,” read a statement from Clarence House, the official London residence of Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
“Canada is seeing the impact of climate change and so this tour will highlight an emphasis on learning from Indigenous Peoples in Canada as well as a focus on working with businesses to find a more sustainable way of living with global warming.”
The tour kicks off May 17 in St. John’s, where there will be a welcome ceremony, a trip to a fishing village and a visit to the official residence of Lt.-Gov. Judy May Foote. The stop at the lieutenant-governor’s residence will include a “solemn moment of reflection and prayer” with Indigenous and community leaders at Heart Garden, which commemorates Indigenous residential school victims and survivors.
On the second day, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon in Ottawa. The couple will visit the National War Memorial and meet with members of Canada’s Ukrainian community. They will also attend a viewing of the RCMP Musical Ride — a troop of police horse riders who perform intricate formations and drills set to music — and they will participate in an evening reception at Rideau Hall, the Governor General’s official residence.
The third day, in the Northwest Territories, includes a visit to the First Nation community of Dettah and discussions on climate change. Camilla will also visit a local school “to learn about their efforts towards ensuring all students and staff are able to learn their Indigenous language,” Clarence House said.
The royal visit will culminate with a celebration in honour of Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee in the Northwest Territories’ capital, Yellowknife, on May 19.
Donald Booth, the Canadian secretary to the Queen, told a news briefing Tuesday the government is “absolutely delighted” that the couple accepted the invitation to visit.
“This tour will be a wonderful way to showcase Canada’s rich landscapes, the warmth and hospitality of Canadians, and an opportunity for their royal highnesses to reacquaint, meet new people and also to learn about the Canadian experience,” Booth said.
This will be the 19th visit to Canada for the Prince of Wales and the fifth for the Duchess of Cornwall. Their most recent visit was in the summer of 2017, when they travelled to Iqaluit; Ottawa, Trenton and Wellington in Ontario; and Gatineau, Que.
Carolyn Harris, an author and royal commentator, said the tour will be an opportunity for the heir to the throne to emphasize his connections to Canada and its people before he eventually assumes the crown.
“Certainly there’s going to be a lot of interest in how Charles and Camilla relate to Canadians and how they set the tone for the future,” Harris said in an interview Tuesday.
The visit comes amid increased scrutiny of other royal tours, including a recent trip to the Caribbean by Prince William and his wife, Kate, that drew criticism for perpetuating images of Britain’s colonial rule.
Harris said that while this trip is ostensibly to celebrate the Queen’s 70 years of service, it’s not taking place over the Victoria Day weekend — perhaps to avoid those same pitfalls. Instead, it’s a weekday visit with a very strong focus on current events, as exemplified by the meeting with Ukrainian Canadians and the discussions on climate change, she said.
“Although this royal tour will be placed in the context of Prince Charles’s long relationship with Canada, dating back to 1970, the events on the itinerary are very focused on current issues in the 21st century,” she said.
Harris said the events on the itinerary reflect Prince Charles’ focus on climate change, the military and support for young entrepreneurs through the Prince’s Trust charity. The trip also promotes the Duchess of Cornwall’s interests, Harris said, which include youth literacy and advocacy for domestic violence survivors.
Harris said that despite the fact the Queen is 96 and is mostly carrying out her engagements online, it’s premature to call Charles’s visit a pre-coronation tour.
“The Queen mum was still undertaking public engagements at the age of 100,” she said in reference to Queen Elizabeth’s mother, who died in 2002. “So certainly, we don’t know exactly when the transition from one reign to another is going to be.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 26, 2022.
HOUSTON (AP) — Brian White scored in the second half to rally the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 1-1 draw with the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday night.
Houston (12-9-8) took a 1-0 lead into halftime after Ezequiel Ponce scored on a penalty kick in the seventh minute of stoppage time. Ponce’s third goal this season came after Amine Bassi drew a foul on Whitecaps midfielder Pedro Vite following a video review. It was Ponce’s sixth career appearance, all starts.
Vancouver (13-8-7) scored the equalizer in the 73rd minute when White, who entered in the 60th, used assists from Fafá Picault and Ryan Gauld to find the net for the 13th time this season. Picault’s assist was his fifth, matching his career high for a single season. Gauld’s assist gives him a career-best 13 on the season.
Yohei Takaoka, who had clean sheets in his last three starts, finished with one save in goal for the Whitecaps.
Steve Clark saved three shots for the Dynamo, who remain one point behind Vancouver in the Western Conference standings.
Houston, which was coming off a 4-1 victory over Real Salt Lake, has allowed just 33 goals this season.
Vancouver — 6-2-2 in its last 10 matches overall — leads the all-time series 10-9-6.
The Whitecaps remain on the road to play the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday. The Dynamo travel to play Austin FC on Saturday.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Tom Pearce and Nathan Saliba scored in the second half — the first goals of their careers — and CF Montreal rallied for a 2-2 draw with the New England Revolution on Wednesday night.
“In the second half, the guys came out a little more ambitious and above all, more connected,” Montreal head coach Laurent Courtois said. “It was a great second half of resilience and fighting spirit. Nathan and Sam were impressive.
“Impressive in covering the gaps and compensating for the teammates, and the individual defending – yes it’s true, it is a lot of weight on their shoulders, but that’s the job.”
New England (8-16-4) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute on Bobby Wood’s third goal of the season. Teenage defender Peyton Miller notched his first assist in his fourth career start and sixth appearance and Carles Gil picked up his ninth of the season. Peyton, at 16 years, 315 days old, is the eighth youngest player in league history to record his first assist.
The Revolution took a two-goal lead in the 35th minute and held it through halftime when 19-year-old Esmir Bajraktarevic took a pass from Gil and scored his third goal of the season and career in his first full season in the league. It was the 73rd regular-season assist in Gil’s career, tying him with Steve Ralston for the most in club history.
Montreal (7-12-10) pulled within a goal in the 54th minute when Pearce scored off a free kick after defender George Campbell drew a foul on New England’s Mark-Anthony Kaye. It was the first goal for Pearce in his third career start and fourth appearance.
“Playoffs are the goal. Maybe it wasn’t in the best form, but in the end, we are picking up a point,” Pearce said. “We came into this game confident, ready to play our own game. Everyone tries their best, whenever the players are called on, we are always ready, and we are always giving it our best.”
Montreal scored the equalizer in the 68th minute on the first career goal by Saliba, a 20-year-old midfielder. Saliba has made 34 starts and 48 appearances with Montreal in his two seasons in the league. Campbell snagged his second assist of the season and the third of his career.
“It’s an incredible feeling, it’s a goal I’ve been waiting for a long time. I’m extremely happy that I was able to score it and that it can help the team take this important point on the road,” Saliba said. “Pearce’s first goal gave us really good momentum and we kept up the pressure to go for a second goal. We got more solid defensively, and we came back ready after halftime, to push for these 3 points.”
Aljaz Ivacic finished with four saves in goal for the Revolution.
Jonathan Sirois stopped four shots for Montreal.
New England beat Montreal 5-0 on the road on Aug. 24.
New England leads the all-time series 16-13-4. Montreal improves to 5-8-2 on the road against the Revs.
The Revolution travel to take on Charlotte FC on Saturday. Montreal returns home to host the Chicago Fire on Saturday.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Adolis García hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning, Cody Bradford pitched seven strong innings after the worst start of his career, and the Texas Rangers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 2-0 on Wednesday night.
The win kept the defending World Series-champion Rangers alive in the AL West race, trailing first-place Houston by 10 games with 10 to play.
García launched an inside sinker over the left-field wall off Toronto starter Bowden Francis (8-5) after Wyatt Langford singled.
“He swings hard, he swings a lot,” Francis said of García. “I guess the velo was dropping during that time.”
Bradford (6-3) allowed five hits and no walks while striking out six.
The seven shutout innings are the most in a game during his two-year career. He was knocked out of his previous start after allowing career highs in hits (nine), runs (eight) and homers (three) in 3 2/3 innings in a 14-4 loss at Arizona.
“Throughout the week, you’ve got to try and digest what happened, see where I can make adjustments, whether it was just game plan went wrong or just poor execution, or a little bit of both,” Bradford said. “Then you flush it.”
Bradford was perfect through four innings before Alejandro Kirk opened the fifth with a smash back to the mound that caromed off Bradford’s left foot and rolled into right field for a single. It extended Kirk’s hitting streak to a career-high 12 games.
Spencer Horwitz’s double to left-center put runners on second and third with no outs before Bradford retired the next three batters.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider credited Bradford’s “deceptive fastball.”
“When you’re throwing 89, 92, you’ve got to have pretty good deception with that at this level,” Schneider said. “Kept us off balance.”
Kirby Yates pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 31st save in 32 opportunities.
Francis, who took no-hitters into the ninth inning in two of his previous four starts, allowed a double to Marcus Semien, the Rangers’ first hitter of the game. He gave up five hits and one walk in six innings.
Francis has a 1.96 ERA in nine starts with 54 strikeouts and seven walks since being moved back into the starting rotation in late July.
“I don’t even want to get complacent, on cruise control,” Francis said. “Just keep attacking.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: SS Bo Bichette was a late scratch with a right middle finger contusion suffered during infield practice. Schneider said the team will get back x-rays on Thursday. Bichette was activated Tuesday following a calf injury and played for the first time in two months, going 2 for 5 with one RBI at the plate. … INF Will Wagner (left knee inflammation) will have the knee scoped on Thursday. Schneider said Wagner should be ready to start spring training. Wagner, son of former major leaguer Billy Wagner, was acquired from Houston at the trade deadline.
UP NEXT
Rangers rookie RHP Kumar Rocker (0-0, 2.25 ERA) will make his home debut against Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gausman (12-11, 4.02) in the series finale. Rocker allowed one run in four innings at Seattle last Thursday in his major league debut.
