page_title: 1939 royal tour of Canada
section_title: British Columbia
hierarchical_section_title: 1939 royal tour of Canada / First portion of the tour (17 May–7 June) / Westward leg / British Columbia
caption_attribution_description: English: "Their Majesties greet chieftains of the Stoney Indian Tribe, who have brought a photo of Queen Victoria." Calgary, Canada
context_page_description: The 1939 royal tour of Canada by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth was undertaken in the build-up to World War II as a way to emphasise the independence of the Dominion from Britain. The royal tour lasted from 17 May to 15 June, covering every Canadian province, the Dominion of Newfoundland, and a few days in the United States. There had been previous royal tours in Canada, but this was unprecedented in its scope. The tour was an enormous event, attracting huge crowds at each new city.
  The king and queen arrived by ship in Quebec City and travelled west by rail, accompanied throughout their journey by Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King. The party visited most of the major cities, finally arriving in Vancouver. Then they travelled through the United States. The tour ended with a visit to the Maritimes and Newfoundland, departing from Halifax.
  It was the first visit by a reigning monarch of Canada and also the first time a Canadian monarch had set foot in the United States.
context_section_description: The King and the Queen stopped in Vancouver, Victoria, and a number of other smaller communities in British Columbia. Mackenzie King was enthused, stating in his diary on 29 May 1939, "the day in Vancouver was one of the finest on the entire tour," and, the following day: "Without question, Victoria has left the most pleasing of all impressions. It was a crowning gem..."
caption: George VI and Elizabeth meet with the chieftains of the Nakoda, who brought with them a photo of Queen Victoria
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