HUMBOLDT — It was an honour for Humboldt for the Governor General to think of the community when filming her Canada Day address, said Humboldt’s mayor.
The second-to-last scene in Julie Payette’s address featured her in the Elgar Petersen Arena.
“Today let us celebrate the generosity and the resilience of everyone throughout the country,” she said. “Proud and free.”
Also in the scene were some of the parents of those affected by the Humboldt Broncos bus crash, the mayor, some of council, two RCMP officers, the fire chief, and the deputy fire chief.
“They wanted to use Humboldt as an example of when times are tough, people help and [show] how you can get through things with the help of your fellow Canadians,” said Rob Muench, Humboldt’s mayor.
Muench said the Governor General’s staff approached him by email, asking for permission to do the scene.
Payette and her staff were in the arena on June 16. All of the participants were told to remain quiet about the visit until after 11 a.m. on Canada Day.
The mayor said the Governor General had secured permission from the provincial health authorities to film the scene.
“She wanted to make sure she followed all the rules and had the government's department of health on board and everything like that.”
The Governor General last visited Humboldt on Oct. 20, 2018 to give a commendation to the citizens of Humboldt, as well as first responders, for their response to the Broncos bus crash. Muench said that visit left an impression.
“She said we left a mark on her and we had some of the parents that were there as well say how much of a mark she left on them when she came last time here to be with the community and the families.”
