If you wish to write to the Governor General you may address the letter to:

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean
Governor General of Canada
Rideau Hall
1 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A1
(no postage necessary)

The full title of the Governor General is:

Her Excellency
The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D.
Governor General of Canada

The title of the Governor General's spouse is:

His Excellency Jean-Daniel Lafond, C.C.

You can write to His Excellency at the same address.

If you want to write to both of them, address the letter to:

Their Excellencies 
The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean
Governor General of Canada
and Mr. Jean-Daniel Lafond

The salutation is: Excellencies

If you wish to send your best wishes and pledges of loyalty to Her Majesty The Queen, you may forward your correspondence to:

Her Majesty The Queen
Buckingham Palace
London SW1A 1AA
United Kingdom

The letter should be addressed to Her Majesty The Queen

The salutation is: Your Majesty

For correspondence relating to issues of Canadian concern, Her Majesty defers to the Governor General, in her role as a representative of the Crown, for all other correspondence. For most topics, please address your enquiries to:

Correspondence
Policy, Program And Protocol Branch
Rideau Hall
1 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A1

For correspondence relating to royal patronage, colonelcies or visits, or relating to the use of the title “Royal”, enquiries should be directed to the Advisor, Protocol and Special Programs, at the address above.

Request form (PDF)

Are your parents celebrating their golden wedding anniversary this year? Are you planning a party for your grandmother on her 90^th birthday? If so, you might want to request a congratulatory message from the Governor General.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II sends messages to Canadians who are 100 years of age or older and to couples who have been married for 60 years or more. These are also issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General.

Eligibility: legally married Canadian couples

Message from the Governor General:

• 50^th anniversary (minimum)
• Interval: 5 years*

Message from The Queen:

• 60^th anniversary (minimum)
• Interval: 5 years*

Message from the Governor General:

• 90^th birthday (minimum)
• Interval: 5 years*

Message from The Queen:

• 100^th birthday
• every year thereafter

*Subsequent messages may then be requested once every five years after the first message has been provided.

Request form (PDF)

Every day, across our country, Canadians celebrate special occasions in their communities, in small towns and big cities alike. The governor general sends messages of support to individuals marking a significant milestone in their lives, such as 25 years of volunteer service or a retirement after 40 years of employment. Messages are also sent to organizations hosting a variety of events, including major national or international conferences, cultural festivals or sports championships, to name a few.

To request a message, please fill out the Special Occasion Message Form and send it by mail to Editorial Services, Rideau Hall, 1 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A1 or by fax at 613-998-8760. Forms should be accompanied by a covering letter on official letterhead. Message requests are not accepted by email.

Typical Milestone Messages

• (i.e. priests, nuns, ministers, rabbis, mullahs, gurus)
• Minimum: 25 years
• Interval: 5 years

Families

• Family settlement in Canada
• Minimum: 100 years
• Interval: 5 years

Family Reunions

• Every 5 years

Volunteers

• Minimum: 25 years
• Interval: 5 years

Retirement

• Minimum 40 years, at the request of the employer.

NOTE: retirement messages are not given to members of the military, or to police, fire or other emergency services personnel, as they are recognized through the Canadian Honours System.

• i.e. churches, synagogues and other places of worship
• Minimum: 100 years
• Interval: 5 years

Commercial Organizations

• For-profit organizations (i.e. private industry, companies, small businesses and unions)
• Minimum: 75 years
• Interval: 5 years

National or International Conferences

• Being hosted in Canada and/or by Canadian organizations
• Interval: 5 years

Fundraising Events

• For registered Canadian charities
• Interval: 5 years

National Service Organizations, Clubs and Societies

• And their local chapters(i.e. Canadian Legion, Knights of Columbus, Optimist Club, Salvation Army, special-interest club, fraternal or academic organizations)
• Minimum: 25 years
• Interval: 5 years

Not-for-profit Community groups

• i.e. Meals on Wheels, church or hospital auxiliaries, shelters, food banks, awareness groups
• Minimum: 25 years
• Interval: 5 years

City, Town Village

• Minimum: 100 years
• Interval: 25 years

Municipal Institutions

• (i.e. school, university, hospital, fire hall)
• Minimum: 75 years
• Interval: 25 years

Guidelines for requesting, receiving and publishing messages from the governor general

• Requests must be submitted no later than SIX WEEKS prior to the event or printing deadline.
• If you have already submitted a request, please DO NOT send a duplicate by mail, fax or email.
• Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II does not send messages to individuals or organizations marking a milestone occasion.(Please see Birthdays and Anniversaries.)
• A maximum of two (2) messages will be provided to the same organization in a single calendar year.
• Please identify if you require an electronic and/or print version of your message.
• Messages cannot be altered in any way without prior written approval from the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General.
• Messages are written in support of a designated event. They are not intended, nor can they be used, for any other purpose.
• The language of the message must not be changed without permission. Translations into French or English are the responsibility of the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General. Please advise the Correspondence section of any errors or omissions.