(Yellowknife, NT) June 14, 2012 –The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the Honourable Jackie Jacobson, and the Premier of the Northwest Territories, the Honourable Bob McLeod, participated in a shrub planting ceremony today at the Legislative Assembly to mark the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s Jubilee. These shrubs were gifted to the Northwest Territories by the Province of Manitoba. 

“Our relationship with Her Majesty is a special one; on April 21, 1994, Queen Elizabeth II dedicated our Legislative Chamber to all the people of the Northwest Territories, and now we get to honour her by planting these shrubs on our legislative grounds,” says Speaker Jacobson. During her 2010 visit to Canada, Her Majesty participated in a planting ceremony in Manitoba for this newly created shrub, the Amber Jubilee Ninebark, which was named to honour Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee. 

“The Amber Jubilee Ninebark will be a beautiful addition to our Legislative Assembly grounds and to other communities,” says Premier McLeod. “I am pleased to continue the tradition of planting shrubs in honour of the royal family. Last summer, Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, planted Potentilla shrubs at the Garden of Hope in the Yellowknife Civic Plaza during their visit.” 

This shrub planting ceremony starts off a series of planting ceremonies to follow in other southern NWT communities. These communities were chosen due to their longer growing season. 

For more information, please contact: 

Danielle Mager, Public Affairs and 
Communications Advisor 
Legislative Assembly of the NWT 
P: 867-669-2230 or toll-free 1-800-661-0784 
F: 867-873-0222 
E: danielle_mager@gov.nt.ca 

Megan Holsapple, Media Liason 
Office of the Premier and Executive Council 
Government of the NWT 
P: 867-669-2302 
F: 867-873-0111 
E: megan_holsapple@gov.nt.ca