Toasting the Queen took on a even more special meaning in 2016.
This past September, Queen Elizabeth II surpassed Queen Victoria as Great Britain’s longest-serving monarch.
On New Year’s Day local military officials spent the afternoon honouring her at the annual HMCS Griffon levee.
Lt.-Cmdr. Michele Tessier, the outgoing commanding officer at the Griffon, said on Thursday it’s a perfect time to salute the country’s head of state.
“It’s fitting, with her now being the longest-reigning monarch, in her 64th year, that we raise a toast and remembers that we wear the Queen’s commission and just to welcome in the new year with everybody together,” Tessier said.
The levee tradition in Canada dates back to the 17th century, when military officials in New France gathered to share strategy and opened their doors to the community, updating them on the year’s conquests in the New World.
While they still take place across the country, in modern times, the military has often given way to civilian efforts.
Not so in Thunder Bay, said Lieut. Bill King.
“As a matter of fact, this is one of the few places where the military still holds the levee. It’s often a city that holds the levee. But we’ve maintained the tradition for as long as I’ve been here, which was the early ‘70s,” King said.
“It started long before that.”
It’s just a matter of maintaining tradition and keeping up the motivation, he said.
“It’s nice to bring in quite a wide range of people,” King said. “A lot of them are retired people from Griffon and from the regular force who ended up here, as well as young members.
“You look around and you see quite of age ranges. We get together once a year and get a lot of our local politicians and dignitaries coming in to see what their views are, what their goals are for the year and just share all that.”
Minister of Northern Development and Mines Michael Gravelle was on hand for the celebration, which included a performance by the Macgillivray Pipe Band, which next year celebrates its 100th anniversary.
“I do think it’s an important tradition to start the year off,” Gravelle said. “I visit the Port Arthur Armoury, a place where my father once was the commanding officer. It’s probably got a lot to do with my father’s history with the military that brings me to that event. But the Griffon is also always extremely welcoming as well.
“To have the pipe band come in and performing is always very special and moving and an opportunity to pay respect to those who support us so strongly from a military point of view.”
