September 7, 2023

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, participated in activities in Ottawa on Thursday, September 7, 2023. 

Her Excellency formally met with Ottawa’s mayor, Mark Sutcliffe, at City Hall, and learned about his vision for the city, as well as discussed salient issues currently facing Ottawa.

Later in the morning, Her Excellency visited Carty House, which provides a first home and a helping hand to refugee women in need in the Ottawa area. Her Excellency viewed some of the doors from the Doors to Refugee Stories exhibit, and engaged with the high school students who designed them. She also engaged with Carty House residents, staff, clients and volunteers.

Finally, Her Excellency visited the Ottawa Food Bank’s Community Harvest Farm, where she helped wash some freshly harvested kale while engaging with Community Harvest Farm volunteers. The Community Harvest Program grows and collects nutritious, local produce for clients served by Ottawa Food Bank member agencies across the national capital region. The Governor General learned about the work being done to help the local community address the issue of food insecurity.