The Queen's Visit to Terrace, BC

1959

On July 18, 1959 Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillips visited Terrace for 40 minutes enroute to Whitehose, Yukon.  In honor of this event Queensway Drive was renamed.  The Newspaper of the day The Omineca Herald recorded the preparations for the visit as follows:

Omineca Herald, April 30, 1959

Arrangements made for Queen to Visit Terrace

The "Dry Run" in connection with the forthcoming visit of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip arrived here Sunday to make arrangements with Village Commission Chairman Harry Pedrini, Sgt. George Phillips of the local R.C.M.P. detachment and Inspector Bloxham and Sgt. Ruttan of Prince Rupert for the stop-over of the Royal Tour in Terrace on Saturday, July 18 while enroute to Whitehorse.

Lieut. General H.D. Graham was in charge of the party with others on the trip being Asst. Com. D.O. Forrest, Esmond Butler press representative for the Queen, Jack Hughes photo liaison officer and S/L R.N. Edwards, Equerry.

Chairman Pedrini reports that the plan outlined was that the Royal Party will stop over for 40 minutes; will meet the dignitaries on the tarmac at Terrace Airport and will be greeted by Aiyansh Native Band; will leave the airport in a four-car cavalcade, consisting of a convertible and three limousines and will travel at a good speed to town and on the designated route will tour at eight miles per hour in the Village.

Mayor Pedrini suggests that a "blitz" clean-up campaign would be in order for this memorable occasion.

Omineca Herald, June, 1959

Royal Visit Review

The program for Terrace's Royal Visit weekend is well on the way.  The July 18 weekend is of course the visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and H.R.H. Prince Phillip, on the Saturday.  Before and after the visit, however, the program planned will assure a gala weekend and lines up like this:

Friday, July 17: Square Dance Outdoor Jamboree in the Super-Valu parking lot.  Dance in the Catholic Hall.  "Klondike Nite" dance in the Civic Center.

Saturday, July 18: Square Dance Outdoor Jamboree, Trap Shoot at the Rod and Gun Club.

Besides the Royal Visit, a highlight of the weekend activities will be an eight-team baseball tournament.  The $1000 prize money will be competed for by teams from Williams Lake, Prince George, Quesnel, Smithers, Hazelton, Kitimat, Prince Rupert and Terrace.

The 50 piece Aiyansh Band will be in Terrace on July 18.

Arrangements have been made for continuous movies at the Tillicum Theatre on the weekend starting in early afternoon of July 17.  The Drive-In theatre will also be open each night.

Open-air bingo, games and amusement concessions will operate at the Civic Center grounds on Saturday afternoon.

It is anticipated that tours will be arranged to the Lava Beds in the Naas River valley and to the Hot Springs at Lakelse Lake.

The Royal Visit co-ordination group under the Chairmanship of Ted Wells, are meeting Thursday night at which time progress of the committees of the group will be reported and details completed.

omineca Herald, June 11, 1959

Royal Visit Round-up for July Being Set Up

An important day in our community--and one on which a great deal of time and effort has already been spent is July 18 when Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip will be here.

Committees to handle the functions associated with the numerous activities are now well in hand and, by using these Co-ordinating Committees to the full, a successful day can be assured.  To keep the community informed, regular items will appear in the "omineca Herald".

The Kinsman Club of Terrace, under Chairman Dave Warren, has accepted the responsibility of Co-ordinating the Entertainment program.  Service clubs and organizations have already been contacted by the Committee and any group planning a public function or entertainment on the "Royal Visit" weekend is asked to contact Dave at Terrace, Phone 159.  It is most urgent that action on this matter be taken quickly, as the rounding out of a good entertainment program will do much to ensure a memorable weekend for all.

A major concern of the Co-ordination group will be the billeting of out-of-town visitors.  The Terrace Elks Clubs has agreed to sponsor this Committee under the chairmanship of Chuck Kellar.  Any householder in Terrace who has billeting accommodation is asked to register this available space by phoning 164 between 10 am and 8 pm Monday to Saturday.

Other committees together with the names of the organizations and chairman responsible for co-ordination are:

Civic Decoration:  Junior Chamber of Commerce, Bud Hallock.

Traffic Control:  R.C.M.P., Sgt. G. Phillips.

Royal Route: Village Commission, H. Buncombe.

First Aid: Fire Department, Curley Casey.

Information and Civic Directory, Catholic Women's League, Mrs. Pat Goulet.

Finance, Banks,  A. Taylor.

Catering:  Bert Goulet.

Advertising, Board of Trade, C. J. Finch.

All these groups and individuals have unselfishly taken on the major responsibilities of planning a happy and successful occasion for the people of Terrace and the many guests from surrounding areas.  With the co-operation of all, July 18 will be a day to remember in the history of the District.

The same paper noted at the council approved the painting of the firehall woodwork and there was a plea to citizen and businesses to clean up their properties in preparation of the visit.

The Editor's Note said:  "Probably only once in a lifetime will the Queen of England and her Colonies visit here in Terrace - do we think we should all put our best foot forward."

The Royal Family Official Website