NOTE: This story was update Wednesday, September 14, 2022 with further information from Mount Allison University.
The government of New Brunswick is joining the federal government in declaring a holiday for Monday, September 19, 2022.
The day is being called a National Day of Mourning in honour of the death of Queen Elizabeth last week. A government news release Tuesday afternoon says the holiday will, “honour the Queen and pay respect to her life of service to Canada and to the Commonwealth of Nations on the day of her funeral.”
Government offices and schools in New Brunswick will be closed for the day, but the provincial government did not extend the holiday across the board, leaving all other organizations and private companies to decide whether or not they remain open.
Unless specified under their contracts, workers will not be eligible for statutory holiday pay.
The holiday is a one-time event, not for annual recognition.
Mount Allison to remain open
Mount Allison will remain open on Monday, September 19, during a national day of mourning for Queen Elizabeth called by the provincial and federal governments.
University president Jean Paul Boudreau said in an email Wednesday that after “leadership discussions” on Tuesday, the school has decided to remain open, and classes and all other activities will continue as scheduled.
Boudreau says that students and faculty who want to mourn the Queen on the day of her funeral can do so, and the funeral service will be broadcast in the Pond and the Chapel, which will be open to visitors throughout the day.
Books of condolence open for contributions
The province has set up a book of condolence in Government House in Fredericton which can also be signed online.
Sackville residents are invited to share their memories of the Queen in a book of condolence at town hall.
Mayor Shawn Mesheau took a moment at the beginning of Monday’s town council meeting to remark on the death of Queen Elizabeth, recalling her visits to Sackville, and calling for a moment of silence in council chambers in her memory.
Mesheau noted that the Queen visited Sackville several times over the year, with the most recent visit in 1984 as part of New Brunswick Bicentennial celebrations, when she attended an event at MacAulay field (pictured above) and an afternoon tea at the Marshlands Inn.
“And of course we celebrated her Jubilee this past summer with another afternoon tea at Marshlands Inn,” said Mesheau. “Former Mayor Will Campbell and Barb Campbell were attending that ceremony that day in [1984], and a young lady by the name of Erin Campbell presented flowers to the Queen,” recalled Mesheau, referring to Campbell’s Funeral Home director Erin Campbell.
Mesheau also recalled his own experience as a boy scout in 1976, watching the Queen’s motorcade as it drove by to inspect the Scout troops at a Jamboree in Woolastook Park near Fredericton.
The Sackville book of condolence is located in the upstairs lobby of town hall, and accessible between 8:30am and 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, until September 20th.