Janet Austin, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia mourned the death of Queen Elizabeth II. "It is with great sadness that I relay the news of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada. The long and steadfast reign of Her Majesty The Queen endured for seven decades. Her presence touched entire generations of Canadian families, who watched her grow from the teenage Princess who trained as a mechanic with the Auxiliary Territorial Service during the Second World War, to the young Queen who charmed crowds on her many tours throughout the country, to a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother many times over. In light of the Queen’s passing after the longest reign of any British monarch, Canada has declared Monday, September 19 as a holiday but for now it is only a holiday for federal government workers.

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff

VICTORIA - Janet Austin, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia mourned the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

"It is with great sadness that I relay the news of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada. The long and steadfast reign of Her Majesty The Queen endured for seven decades. Her presence touched entire generations of Canadian families, who watched her grow from the teenage Princess who trained as a mechanic with the Auxiliary Territorial Service during the Second World War, to the young Queen who charmed crowds on her many tours throughout the country, to a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother many times over.

"The impact of the reign of Her Majesty cannot be understated; the passing of this Queen represents the end of an era defined by its longevity and her ceaseless service. On behalf of all British Columbians, I extend my great sympathies to The Royal Family and to all members of the Commonwealth for the loss of our most beloved Queen."

In light of the Queen’s passing after the longest reign of any British monarch, Canada has declared Monday, September 19 as a holiday but for now it is only a holiday for federal government workers.

In memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada

Throughout her tremendous reign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was witness to significant events that changed the course of history. She was not born direct heir to the throne; rather, the line of succession changed when her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated the throne in 1936. At the age of 19, during the Second World War, the then-Princess Elizabeth enlisted in the military as part of the Auxiliary Territorial Service. She ascended the throne on Feb. 6, 1952, at the age of 25. Her reign came to represent many firsts for the British Monarchy: her coronation was the first to be broadcast from Westminster Abbey; later, her televised Christmas messages reached homes throughout the Commonwealth and continued as her annual tradition. In recent years, The Royal Family joined social media to connect across the Commonwealth.

Her unwavering service to the people of the Commonwealth earned Her Majesty the respect and admiration of Canadians. She, in turn, loved Canada dearly, and travelled here on more occasions than any other country in the world. Over the course of her 22 visits to Canada, she came to British Columbia seven times, visiting communities throughout the province from Vancouver Island to Prince Rupert.

This year, Her Majesty celebrated her Platinum Jubilee, marking an incredible 70 years on the throne. Her remarkable reign was unsurpassed in British history, and Her Majesty was the longest-reigning queen regnant and female head of state in world history. Her Majesty is survived by her four children: His Royal Highness Prince Charles; Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal; His Royal Highness Prince Edward; and His Royal Highness Prince Andrew. Her beloved husband of 73 years, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, passed on April 9, 2021.

Her Majesty served as patron to many Canadian organizations, including the Royal BC Museum, along with her support for the conservation of the Great Bear Rainforest through the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy. Government House in Victoria had the honour of hosting Her Majesty on several visits. In 1994, alongside Lieutenant Governor David Lam, she officially dedicated the newly revived gardens of the estate, which thrive today thanks to the efforts of the volunteer organization, the Friends of Government House Gardens Society.