Governor General of Canada on state visit to Finland

The Governor General of Canada, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, and her husband, His Excellency John Ralston Saul, made a state visit to Finland on 6-10 October 2003 at the invitation of President of the Republic Tarja Halonen.

Governor General Clarkson and president Halonen. Photo: Lehtikuva.

Environment Minister David Anderson as well as a number of parliamentarians, scientists and representatives of nongovernmental organisations and cultural life accompanied the General Governor. In addition to Helsinki, the guests visited Oulu, Rovaniemi and Inari.

The visit was part of an extensive tour of circumpolar countries by the Governor General. She arrived in Finland from Russia and continued to Iceland. Visits to Sweden, Norway and Denmark will follow in 2004.

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State Banquet at the Presidential Palace on the 6th of October 2003

Speech by President of the Republic at a state banquet on 6 October 2003