The news that Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton will be coming to B.C. this fall was immediately followed by two questions: are they bringing the kids and are they coming to Prince George?
Their young children have yet to travel with their parents on an official visit and even the British press is salivating at the idea of young Prince George, who just turned three, visiting a little city in Canada called Prince George.
Splendid.
Or, as more modern Britons would say, brilliant.
Really it's not if, but when, Prince George, the future king, comes to Prince George, the city that shares his name and title. With that in mind, the city should prepare for an official visit. Naturally, many of these plans are worked out by staff at Buckingham Palace, along with the Governor General's office in Ottawa and the Lieutenant-Governor in Victoria but they would all certainly be seeking input from local officials on creating a meaningful royal visit to Prince George, both for the prince and for his family.
Like the Vancouver Canucks training camp, a royal visit to Prince George would be a major tourism draw. The news media attention alone would certainly dwarf what the city saw for the Canucks or even the Canada Winter Games. Along with the provincial and national media, the major British media outlets would send their own people.
Royal watchers and serious monarchists from across Canada and even around the world would also book their ticket to Prince George, particularly if the kids were making their international debut.
It's been a long time since Prince George, the city, enjoyed a visit from members of the royal family. Queen Elizabeth attended the opening of UNBC in 1994 and Prince Charles and Princess Diana stopped by during Expo 86.
Beyond the obvious and corny visit to Mr. P.G. and the presentation of a Mr. P.G. doll, there are several excellent opportunities to shine a positive light on Prince George, the city, while also giving the royal family a fun and memorable experience. Some suggestions:
Church. The two Anglican churches in Prince George would both be a fantastic stop for the royals. Grace Anglican in the Westwood subdivision is tiny and cute while the historic
St. Michael's downtown is majestic.
RCMP detachment. It's across the street from St. Michael's and nothing says Canada like a group of Mounties in their formal red serge.
Ancient Forest. Visually stunning, it'd be a perfect place for a picnic with the kids. To get there and back faster, Prince William could pilot the helicopter himself. A royal endorsement of the application to make the forest a UNESCO World Heritage Site would be a bonus.
Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park. A closer spot for that family picnic, visiting the park - and particularly to the cemetery - would have important cultural significance, recognizing the city's aboriginal and settler history, as well as the recent name change. Mom and dad could also enjoy some fun time with George and Charlotte in the Rotary Playground or inside The Exploration Place.
UNBC. William's grandmother opened the university and it would draw attention to the city's excellent education and research facilities.
Prince George Spruce Kings game. Spruce Kings? Get it? The future kings shouldn't come to Canada without seeing some hockey and the Kings have a heavy home schedule this September and October. Prince Charles, William's father, opened the B.C. Festival of the Arts at the Coliseum 30 years ago this past May.
One final thing.
As part of a visit to Prince George, it would be fitting for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to take part in the dedication of a prominent local building in recognition of Queen Elizabeth and her extraordinary reign. Renaming Duchess Park Secondary would be ironic but there are other prominent landmarks that could work, such as the Wood Innovation and Design Centre or UNBC's Teaching and Learning Centre.
Like the Canucks camp and like the Canada Winter Games, a royal visit would bring out the best of Prince George, the city, its residents and their pride and hospitality. The Canucks and the visiting games athletes left Prince George singing its praises. There's no reason to think William and Kate would be any different.
-- Managing editor Neil Godbout
