Assermentation de Georges P. Vanier au poste de gouverneur général

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INSTALLATION OF THE GOVERNOR GENERAL

His Excellency Major-General Georges P. Vanier, D.S.O., M.C., C.D., was installed as Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada at a stately ceremony in the Senate Chamber on Tuesday, September 15.

The Governor-General Designate and Mmme [sic] Vanier arrived in Ottawa by train from Montreal on Monday evening, and were met by the Prime Minister, the Right Honourable John G. Diefenbaker and Mrs. Diefenbaker. Later on Monday evening, the Prime Minister gave a dinner in honour of the Right Honourable Vincent Massey, C.H., who retired as Governor General on Major-General Vanier's installation.
Mr. Massey left Ottawa by train for his home, Batterwood House, at Fort Hope, Ontario, an hour before the installation of his successor.

The First Battalion, Regiment of Canadian Guards, provided the Guard of Honour for the Installation of General Vanier.

On their arrival at the Parliament Building, the Prime Minister conducted General and Mme Vanier to the Senate Speaker's Chambers, and from there, a procession composed of members of the Governor General's Household and with the Chairman and Chiefs of Staff in attendance, conducted General and Mme Vanier to their places at the foot of the dais in the Senate Chamber.

The Ceremony commenced with the reading of General Vanier's Commission of appointment, signed by Her Majesty The Queen in Halifax on August 1, at the conclusion of her tour of Canada.

The Chief Justice, Hon. Patrick Kerwin, administered the three oaths of office--theoath [sic] of allegiance, the oath of office of Governor General, and the oath of office as Keeper of the Great Seal of Canada. Following the signing of the oaths, General Vanier took his place on the Throne, and, after curtsying to him, Mme Vanier took her place on his left.

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The new Governor General then signed and sealed his first xxxxx Proclamation, bringing his Commission of appointment into effect. When the Proclamation was read, the band of the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps, Montreal, played the Royal Salute, and a 21-gun artillery salute was fired from Nepean Point as the Governor General's standard was raised on the Peace Tower.

Prime Minister Diefenbaker, who sat during the ceremony at the head of the council table in front of the xxx dais, spoke of the significance of the installation ceremony, and the distinc-tion that Major-General Vanier brought to the office of Governor General. He expressed best wishes on behalf of the government and people of Canada to Their Excellencies for their term of office.

On his departure from Ottawa, Mr. Massey was accorded a Royal Salute by the First Battalion Canadian Guards at the Union Station, and said farewell to the Prime Minister and Mrs. Diefenbakers, to members of the Cabinet and their wives, to the Chief Justice and Mrs. Kerwin, and the dean of the diplomatic corps, His Excellency Francis Lacoste, Ambassador of France.