Bernard, accompanied by Nathalie, was invited to Ottawa by Canada’s Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, to attend a State meal for Queen Elizabeth II in honour of the 50th anniversary of her reign.
Only 50 people in Canada were invited, including Antonine Maillet, Nancy Greene, Oscar Peterson, Margaret Atwood and David Suzuki. Bernard had the privilege of being seated at the table of honour, next to Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh. Remember that Edmund Hillary and Tensing Norgay dedicated their successful climb of Mount Everest in 1953 to the new Queen as a way of celebrating her coronation!
