Working visit to Iceland

October 12 to 15, 2022

Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, and Mr. Whit Fraser undertook a working visit to Iceland, from October 12 to 15, 2022, on the occasion of the Arctic Circle Assembly.

Her Excellency’s participation in the Arctic Circle Assembly served to demonstrate Canadian leadership in the Arctic, and reinforce other priority issues for Canada in the north, including climate change, reconciliation, gender equality and youth engagement. 

The Governor General was a keynote speaker at the opening session of this year’s ACA, as well as a panellist in a plenary session entitled Gender Equality and Diversity in Arctic Leadership.

October 12, 2022

Their Excellencies arrived in Reykjavik and were greeted at the airport by Iceland officials.

Scenic view of the landscape in Iceland.

Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, and Mr. Whit Fraser undertook a working visit to Iceland, from October 12 to 15, 2022, on the occasion of the Arctic Circle Assembly.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0247-002
The Governor General is shaking hands with an Icelandic representative on the tarmac. Mr. Fraser is descending the steps of the plane behind them.

Their Excellencies arrived in Reykjavik and were greeted at the airport by Iceland officials.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0247-009
The Governor General is speaking to the Canadian Ambassador to Iceland, Jeannette Menzies. Mr. Fraser and three other people are standing behind them on the tarmac. The side of a plane is visible behind them.

Their Excellencies arrived in Reykjavik and were greeted at the airport by Iceland officials, including Canadian Ambassador to Iceland, Jeannette Menzies.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0247-012

October 13, 2022

This morning, the Governor General met with His Excellency Guðni Thorlacius Jóhannesson, President of Iceland, to discuss Canada-Iceland relations, including historic connections and the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

The Governor General also met with Her Excellency Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Prime Minister of Iceland, who will join her in tomorrow’s plenary panel on Gender Equality and Diversity in Arctic Leadership. Prime Minister Jakobsdóttir is the second woman to hold this position in Iceland.

In the afternoon, Her Excellency delivered a keynote address on global Arctic collaboration followed by an armchair discussion with Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson on Arctic issues and on Canada’s role and leadership in the Arctic.

A landscape. A lake surrounded by fields. There are large white buildings with red roofs on the other side of the lake. There are snowy mountains in the background. The sky is blue.

Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, and Mr. Whit Fraser undertook a working visit to Iceland, from October 12 to 15, 2022, on the occasion of the Arctic Circle Assembly.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0248-002
Governor General Mary Simon is sitting at a desk in a study. She is writing in a book.

Her Excellency’s participation in the Arctic Circle Assembly served to demonstrate Canadian leadership in the Arctic, and reinforce other priority issues for Canada in the north, including climate change, reconciliation, gender equality and youth engagement.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0248-010
The Governor General is standing to the right of His Excellency, Guðni Thorlacius Jóhannesson, President of Iceland.

Governor General Mary Simon connected with H.E. Guðni Thorlacius Jóhannesson, President of Iceland, to discuss our countries’ relationship and mutual priorities such as language preservation.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0248-011
Mr. Fraser is standing next to Mr. Gudvardur Mar Gunnlaugsson. They are talking. A large manuscript with weathered pages is open in front of them.

His Excellency spoke with Mr. Gudvardur Mar Gunnlaugsson while visiting the Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies, located on the campus of the University of Iceland.  

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0249-003
Mr. Fraser is standing next to Mr. Gudvardur Mar Gunnlaugsson. They are talking. A large manuscript with weathered pages is open in front of them.

His Excellency spoke with Mr. Gudvardur Mar Gunnlaugsson while visiting the Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies, located on the campus of the University of Iceland.  

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0249-004
Mr. Fraser and Col. Ronald Walker are standing in a cemetery. There is a row of grey stone tombstones in front of them.

In 1944, 15 members of the Royal Canadian Navy died after the HMCS Skeena ran aground on Videy Island, Iceland. Icelanders were integral to the rescue of 136 survivors. Mr. Fraser paid his respects to the fallen soldiers at Fossvogur Cemetery.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0250-007
Mr. Fraser, Col. Ronald Walker and a person wearing a military uniform are standing in front of a stone memorial in Fossvogur Cemetery. There is a wreath leaning against the memorial.

In 1944, 15 members of the Royal Canadian Navy died after the HMCS Skeena ran aground on Videy Island, Iceland. Icelanders were integral to the rescue of 136 survivors. Mr. Fraser paid his respects to the fallen soldiers at Fossvogur Cemetery.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0250-011
A wreath leaning against a memorial in Fossvogur Cemetery. Text on a red ribbon next to the wreath reads, “The people of Canada.”

In 1944, 15 members of the Royal Canadian Navy died after the HMCS Skeena ran aground on Videy Island, Iceland. Icelanders were integral to the rescue of 136 survivors. Mr. Fraser paid his respects to the fallen soldiers at Fossvogur Cemetery.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0250-016
Governor General Mary Simon is standing to the left of Mr. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson. The light-blue poster behind them reads, “ArcticCicle.org” and “Arctic Circle”.

As interest in the Arctic continues to grow, so too do Canada and Iceland’s roles in the region. Governor General Mary Simon discussed this responsibility with the Founder and Chair of the Arctic Circle, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0251-009
Governor General Mary Simon and Mr. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson are sitting across from each other at a long table. Several other people are seated at the table. They are engaged in a discussion.

Her Excellency’s participation in the Arctic Circle Assembly served to demonstrate Canadian leadership in the Arctic, and reinforce other priority issues for Canada in the north, including climate change, reconciliation, gender equality and youth engagement.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0251-014
Governor General Mary Simon is standing to the left of Icelandic Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir. They are smiling.

Governor General Mary Simon met with Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir. Jakobsdóttir is the second woman to hold this position in Iceland.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0252-001
The Governor General is standing behind a podium on a large stage. She is speaking into a microphone.

The Governor General delved into the importance of collaborating on Arctic priorities in her keynote address at the 2022 Arctic Circle Assembly.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0253-012
A large seated audience. The wall next to the audience is lit with blue lights and a projection on the wall reads, “Arctic Circle.”

Her Excellency’s participation in the Arctic Circle Assembly served to demonstrate Canadian leadership in the Arctic, and reinforce other priority issues for Canada in the north.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0253-024
The Governor General is speaking to Mr. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson. They are sitting next to each other in black armchairs.

Her Excellency delivered a keynote address on global Arctic collaboration followed by an armchair discussion with Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson on Arctic issues and on Canada’s role and leadership in the Arctic.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0253-034
The Governor General is standing next to His Excellency, Alar Karis, President of the Republic of Estonia. There is a large patterned glass wall behind them.

Governor General Mary Simon met with His Excellency, Alar Karis, President of the Republic of Estonia.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0254-002
The Governor General is speaking to a small group of people in a library.

Governor General Mary Simon met with Canadians participating in the Arctic Circle Assembly.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0256-008
The Governor General is speaking into a microphone.

Governor General Mary Simon met with Canadians participating in the Arctic Circle Assembly.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0256-010
View looking down at the library where the Governor General is speaking to a group of people.

Governor General Mary Simon met with Canadians participating in the Arctic Circle Assembly.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0256-012

October 14, 2022

This morning, Her Excellency was part of the Plenary Panel at the Arctic Circle Assembly on Gender Equality and Diversity in Arctic Leadership. The Governor General took part in this discussion to share her experience as a woman and as an Indigenous leader. She was joined by Her Excellency Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Prime Minister of Iceland, and Naaja Nathanielsen, Greenland’s Minister of Finance and Gender Equality.

In the afternoon, His Excellency moderated a panel organized by the Arctic Circle Secretariat.

Later in the day, Their Excellencies, along with Jeannette Menzies, Ambassador of Canada to Iceland, met with Icelandic representatives from various sectors, including government, business, innovation, civil society, culture and academia. 

Governor General Simon and three other people are seated in black armchairs.

Her Excellency participated in the Plenary Panel at the Arctic Circle Assembly on Gender Equality and Diversity in Arctic Leadership.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0257-005
Governor General Simon is seated in a black armchair on stage. The screen behind her reads Arctic Circle.

Her Excellency shared her experience as a woman and as an Indigenous leader.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0257-009
Governor General Simon and three other people are seated in black armchairs. Governor General Simon is speaking and three other panelists are looking at her.

Her Excellency shared her experience as a woman and as an Indigenous leader.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0257-015
Mr. Fraser is standing next to Mrs. Eliza Reid, the First Lady of Iceland.

Mr. Fraser was pleased to meet Mrs. Eliza Reid, the First Lady of Iceland.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0258-004
Mr. Fraser is signing a guest book.

Mr. Fraser was pleased to meet Mrs. Eliza Reid, the First Lady of Iceland.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0258-003
Mr. Fraser and Mrs. Eliza Reid, the First Lady of Iceland, are seated across from each other in arm chairs.

Mr. Fraser was pleased to meet Mrs. Eliza Reid, the First Lady of Iceland.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0258-007
Mr. Fraser and five women are sitting in black armchairs on a stage. A crowd is seated in front of the stage.

His Excellency Whit Fraser moderated a panel on Canada’s North and the future of the Arctic.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0259-013
Mr. Fraser is smiling at panelists. The photo is taken from behind two panelists.

His Excellency Whit Fraser moderated a panel on Canada’s North and the future of the Arctic.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0259-021
Mr. Fraser and five women are sitting in black armchairs on a stage.

The panel was organized by the Arctic Circle Secretariat.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0259-022
The Governor General and a small group of people are standing together in a room. A Canada flag and an Iceland flag are in the background.

Their Excellencies met with Icelandic representatives from various sectors, including government, business, innovation, civil society, culture and academia.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0261-002
The Governor General is speaking to two people in a room. A Canada flag and an Iceland flag are in the background.

Their Excellencies met with Icelandic representatives from various sectors, including government, business, innovation, civil society, culture and academia.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0261-003
Their Excellencies are posing with a small group for a photo.

Their Excellencies met with Icelandic representatives from various sectors, including government, business, innovation, civil society, culture and academia.

  • Credit: Sgt Mathieu St-Amour, Rideau Hall
  • Reference Number: GG09-2022-0261-006

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