聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 The community of Kisbey celebrated Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's record-breaking reign with a ceremony and celebratory lunch for over 100 people at the village's recreation centre on Wednesday, Sept. 9.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Queen became the longest reigning monarch in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth on Sept. 9, surpassing the record set by Queen Victoria who ruled from 1837 to 1901. The Queen surpassed her great-great-grandmother's reign of 23,226 days, 16 hours and approximately 30 minutes on Sept. 9 at 5:30 British standard time.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Verna Reed of Kisbey's Fern Rebekah Lodge says, 鈥淭he Monarchist League of Canada asked communities if they would like to hold an event to celebrate this occasion. The Village of Kisbey asked the Rebekahs if we would help out and we said 'Why not?'鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e're more than thrilled with the turnout today, especially with harvest and everything.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Fellow Rebekah and Noble Grand of the Fern Rebekah Lodge, Charlotte Hookenson says, 鈥淲e started planning it in August. It's a community event and we're not only happy with the people that have come out from our local area of Kisbey and Arcola. We also have people here from Carlyle, Estevan, Kennedy, Kipling, Manor, Redvers and Stoughton.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淪he's been my only Queen and I remember her coronation and standing by the flagpole growing up. She's the only Queen many of us have ever known.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Kisbey Mayor Kalvin Nankivell started the ceremony by reading the proclamation from the Village of Kisbey paying tribute to the Queen's record-breaking reign. Reeve of Brock No. 64, Paul Cameron said the oath of allegiance to the Queen.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 During his prayer, Arcola/Kisbey United Church minister, Rev. Koshy David said, 鈥� Though we are different, we are united. We have settled here and we remember the life and contribution of the Queen and her long life and wisdom.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 聽 Hookenson read the Queen's reply to a message sent to her聽 on behalf of the Kisbey community, as well the reply from the office of Her Majesty's private secretary,聽 stating 鈥淭he Queen has asked me to send her best wishes to you.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Guest speaker Ed Komarnicki, Member of Parliament for Souris-Moose Mountain, said, 鈥淭he Queen is that calm, still voice, that anchor in a turbulent world. Her Majesty has seen a lot of changes-TV was new at the beginning of her reign and she was the first monarch to send an email and a tweet. There have been a lot of changes, but our Queen has not changed.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t's very special and unique to have a smaller community put on such a marvellous event. Hats off to the community of Kisbey and to the Fern Rebekah Lodge #33 for putting on such a historic occasion.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Komarnicki also joked about the number of festive hats in the room and how Irene Doty of Carlyle-who loaned her festive hat collection- made a special effort to match hats to the colour of each woman's outfit. 鈥淚 was a little worried they'd make me wear one and match it to my tie,鈥� he laughed. 鈥淏ut seriously, Kisbey is making some history here with this marvellous celebration.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Doty said she was delighted to be a part of the event. 鈥淚 brought 75 hats,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd I find this awesome that such a small group of ladies from the Rebekahs put on something so memorable.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Pianist Janelle David agreed. 鈥淚t was a really unique experience and I'm so glad I got to be a part of it.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t's great to honour the Queen,鈥� added Crystal Cutler of Arcola. 鈥淚t's not every day you get to wear a hat and have tea.鈥�
