Overview

Official visits

The Office of International Relations and Protocol (OIRP) organizes official visits to Ontario by foreign heads of state/government with the following:

  • the lieutenant governor
  • the premier
  • members of the Executive Council of Ontario
  • a variety of stakeholders

State ceremonies

We also plan official ceremonies involving the lieutenant governor and premier.

We support their constitutional roles as The King’s representative and head of Ontario’s government respectively.

Royal visits

The King and senior members of his family often spend time in Canada on tours organized by the federal and provincial governments.

Typically, a tour involves the federal government and one or more provinces.

The OIRP organizes the tours in Ontario. Tours showcase the strengths of our economy, culture and people.

Installations and swearings-in

Lieutenant governor installation

The lieutenant governor is The King’s representative in Ontario.

After the governor general has designated a lieutenant governor on the advice of the prime minister, the OIRP leads a group of officials from various government departments to plan and implement the installation ceremony within the legislative precinct.

The ceremony is an opportunity to welcome the new lieutenant governor and puts our institutions, heritage and traditions on public display.

Learn more about the appointment and installation of the lieutenant governor.

Government swearing-in ceremonies

After a general election, the premier and Executive Council of Ontario may take their oaths of office in a public ceremony in the Legislative Assembly, organized by the OIRP.

State funerals

State funerals are public events offered by the government to honour the passing of current or former lieutenant governors and current or former premiers. These ceremonies serve to:

  • recognize the contributions of public figures
  • allow citizens to unite in their expression of grief

Families may choose to hold a private funeral, with or without the assistance of the government.

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day, originally called Armistice Day, has been observed in Canada and many other nations since 1919, to commemorate the signing of the armistice that ended the hostilities of the First World War on November 11, 1918.

Today, Remembrance Day is an opportunity to honour all those members of Canada’s armed services who have given their lives, so that others may live in peace.

Every year, we work with veterans’ organizations, the Canadian Armed Forces and others to organize a public ceremony at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.