Stories from the Royal Tour
Food fit for a (future) King and Queen (July 8, 2011)
By Brookes Merritt – Public Affairs Bureau
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had a chance to taste a variety of made-in-Alberta cuisine today at their final Canadian stop – a reception in the Calgary Zoo’s ENMAX Conservatory.
The menu, which was a stand-up luncheon service, featured a delectable selection of Alberta foods, themed around sustainable and organic agricultural practices. It included:
- Alberta chicken confit salad rolls
- Venison and apple pate canapé
- Smoked Sylvan Star gouda cheese canapé with Spolumbo's chicken apple sausage
- Pinwheels made from tortilla and Fairwinds Farm chipotle, chive and blue cheese-flavoured organic goat cheese
- Caesar gazpacho
- Alberta potato pave
- BBQ braised Alberta beef short-rib
- Grilled ponzu bison asparagus spears
- Alberta lamb loin
- Roasted Alberta AAA beef tenderloin – carving station
- Crudites tray with assorted crisp vegetables & a selection of dips
- Fresh seasonal fruit tray with minted honey yogurt dip
- Fruit punch & lemonade
- Freshly brewed shadegrown Starbucks coffee
A special selection of desserts, prepared by SAIT, was also served. They included pastries created with the "eco friendly" theme in mind, specifically, the bumblebees on the Lemon Meringue tarts, the hand-painted ladybugs on the Cassis bonbons and a show piece built around butterflies.
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A raspberry white chocolate French macaron was served with a raspberry, red currant coulis squirt that the guests squeezed onto the cookies as they were eating it.
Alberta Contributors to the menu included Calgary’s own Brasscia Mustard, Sylvan Star Cheese, Calgary’s Spolumbos Italian deli, Carmen Creek bison, Sunterra lamb
SAIT participants for the dessert menu included instructor Victoria German, and SAIT graduates
Ashley Theresa Daoust and Tracie Zahavich.
Over their heads and under their toes (July 7, 2011)
By Brookes Merritt - Public Affairs Bureau
July 7, 2011
When the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge retired to their hotel suite a short while ago - prior to this evening's reception with Prime Minister Stephen Harper - these cowboy boots were waiting for them.
The boots are handcrafted from kangaroo pelt and ostrich hide. They're made by Calgary's own Alberta Boot company, and were left in the Royal couple's suite as a surprise gift from company owner Clem Gerwing.
Gerwing, 91, has maintained a keen interest in the monarchy since he flew Spitfires during WWII with the RCAF. Over the years he's made boots for other members of the Royal family, including Lord Louis Mountbatten, Prince Charles and Prince Andrew.
"He's always been big on the Royals," said Gerwing's grandson Ben, 25. "He got up early to watch Will and Kate's wedding on TV."
Ben's learning the ropes of the boot business and plans to keep it in the family.
"Grandpa still comes in pretty much five days a week. He plays some cribbage, cuts some leather for the boots. He stays pretty active.
"We figured if the Royals were coming to Calgary for Stampede, they'd need some boots. We were proud to make them," he said.
For more information about the handcrafted footwear, visit Albertaboot.com
Duke breathes life into sci-fi technology at UofC (July 7, 2011)
By Kim Capstick – Public Affairs BureauA bandage that monitors a patient's core temperature. A robotic patient that breathes, bleeds and can tell you where it hurts. A keyboard so slick it repels germs. A bed that monitors pressure and tells healthcare providers when a patient needs to be moved. While they may sound like the stuff of science fiction, they are actually very real products currently being developed and tested in Alberta at the University of Calgary’s Ward of the 21st Century (W21C) Research and Innovation Centre.
They are also just a few of the many amazing Alberta innovations shared with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during their recent visit to the University of Calgary and the W21C. During the visit, the Duke was even able to participate in a live demonstration of the new robotic teaching technology. When the robot, known affectionately as iStan, told the visitor he was feeling ill and fell into cardiac arrest, the Duke was able to successfully resuscitate the robotic patent. iStan is reportedly doing well and is in stable condition.
The W21C is a partnership between the University of Calgary, Alberta Innovates, Alberta Health Services and both the provincial and federal governments. Designed as a 'living laboratory,' researchers, healthcare professionals, and students can come together to conduct applied research. The knowledge created by these partnerships leads to transformative and innovative practices, technologies, and products that will positively impact the delivery of health care at a national and international level.
From tragedy, a fairytale wish comes true (July 7, 2011)
By Brookes Merritt – Public Affairs Bureau
Diamond, August 2010, 5 years old
At just 6-years-old, Diamond Marshall has stalwartly endured more than her share of tragedy. Her vivacity inspires not only her father, step-mother and sister, but also her caregivers at the Alberta Children's Hospital, and the dream-makers at the Children’s Wish Foundation.
On Thursday, Children's Wish granted this young Calgary girl her wish of meeting a real '‘princess': as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived in her city, Diamond -who is named after Princess Diana – will present the Duchess a bouquet of flowers.
Diamond's challenges began long before she was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer last December, at age 5. When Diamond was just 18-months-old, the life of her mother, Memory, was claimed by the same unforgiving disease.
It's these devastating experiences that make the realization of Diamond’s wish even more significant.
"We realize she may not have the chance to go to Disneyland where she wants to lunch with Princess Aurora of the fabled story Sleeping Beauty," Lyall wrote in May, in a letter to the Children's Wish Foundation.
Diamond also wrote a letter - to the Duchess, from her hospital bed.
"I was named after Princess Diana. My mommy memory is in heaven with her," she wrote. "I watched you get married from my bed. My favourite princess is Aurora, who is yours? I would really like to meet you. Do you want to meet me too?"
Lyall's letter tells of the shock, sadness and anger that followed his daughter’s diagnosis of undifferentiated sarcoma last December. He and his wife Danielle had become worried after noticing Diamond’s belly distended. They took her to hospital where an aggressive abdominal tumour was detected, along with several cancerous masses in her lungs.
Before treatment could commence, the tumors began to bleed. Diamond's life was in immediate danger. She underwent two back-to-back angioplasty surgeries and spent several weeks in hospital recovering, re-learning how to talk, walk and eat all over again.
In the time since, Diamond has returned to school, eager to pick-up a badminton racquet in gym class and show off her favourite outfit - a pink princess dress and cowboy boots. She continues to receive cancer treatment and is scheduled for surgery to have the tumour removed from her abdomen later this summer.
The Children's Wish Foundation has granted exceptional wishes to more than 17,000 children with life-threatening illnesses since 1984. The AB & NWT Chapter grants 125 wishes a year; granting one wish every three days to a local child. For more information or to refer a child, visit ChildrensWish.ca
What's with the White Hat? (July 7, 2011)
Brookes Merritt - Public Affairs Bureau (@YourAlberta)Try asking someone who's not from Alberta what it means to be "White hatted" and you're likely to get a quizzical stare in response.
Unless, by chance, you're asking Oprah. Or Bill Clinton... David Letterman... or the Dalai Lama.
Those are just a few among the exclusive list of celebrities and dignitaries who've had the pleasure of receiving the ceremonial welcome of the City of Calgary. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will join that list this afternoon. Upon their arrival at Calgary International Airport, they will be White-hatted by mayor Naheed Nenshi.
Being "White hatted" means simply that - presented with the gift of a traditionally designed white Stetson cowboy hat. Of course, there's also a lively bit of pomp and ceremony that goes along with the occasion.
The White Hat has been a symbol of the spirit of Calgary since 1948, when a train load of Stampeder fans donned white Stetsons and traveled by train to Toronto, to support the team during that year's CFL Grey Cup match. Then-mayor of Toronto Robert Saunders was presented with a hat, and the tradition was borne.
"The white hat represents our Western heritage and the hospitably of this great city. No other city has a symbol like it," says Bryce Nimmo, proud president of Smithbilt Hats -the Calgary company that's been creating the cowboy caps since 1919.
Nimmo expects Calgarians will share his pride at bestowing White Hats upon the Royal couple.
"It's kind of neat to make something for celebrities like the Royal couple," he says. "It's something all Calgarians can feel good about: a made-in-Calgary gift that's going to be taken home to England by the Royal family."
It's worth noting that Calgary visitors needn't be celebrities to get a White Hat; the city presents thousands to visitors from around the world each year. Anyone can inquire about White Hat ceremonies with Tourism Calgary, or buy official White hats directly from Smithbilt.