These days when the national media is drawing attention to the role of Canada’s current Minister of Finance Dominic LeBlanc, it reminds us of the time, way back on May 1st 1999, when the minister’s dad, Right Honourable Romeo LeBlanc, visited Sooke when he was governor general of Canada.
Photographed at Edward Milne Community School, the governor general is holding the friendship stick carved by Charles Eliot, which was presented to him by T’Sou-ke Chief James Cooper. Invited to Sooke to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first immigrant settlement in B.C., the governor general was accompanied by his wife Diana Fowler LeBlanc. Organizers were delighted to learn that Sooke’s reputation of two cultures working together for their community had led the governor general to accept the invitation.
Greeted by T’Sou-ke Chief James Cooper at the T’Sou-ke Nation, LeBlanc visited with the members, and spoke of the “150 years of harmonious co-existence.” He spoke of how the two races had historically worked together in the industries of forests and oceans. “Those successes and relationships are due to First Nations People. They helped all of us … and showed the generosity that has continued to mark our nation.”
Next, Edward Milne Community School was the scene of the Pageant of Sooke, where the Vice-Regal couple was greeted as well by Sooke’s regional director Diane Bernard, Malahat/Juan de Fuca MLA Rick Kasper and his wife Doni Eve, Sooke’s eloquent Elder Frank Planes and his wife Bunny, and T’Sou-ke Elder Jean Whitford.
Two years of preparation had gone into the event, as 600 community volunteers took part in a series of cultural presentations demonstrating the wealth of our shared history. The school’s gymnasium was packed, as a crowd of 1,000 joined in a happy celebration of community spirit.
Salish artist Charles Eliot had carved two Friendship Sticks, and while one was presented to the governor general, the other was presented to regional director Bernard. When Sooke was incorporated the next year, the regional director presented her historic friendship stick to the office of the Mayor of the new municipality.
Elida Peers is a historian at Sooke Region Museum
