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Click here to return to the January 16, 2009 Issue of the ISES Intouch.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNER OF NOVA SCOTIA – NEW YEAR’S LEVÉE

Her Honour Mayann E. Francis, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia hosts an annual New Year’s Levée on January 1st; however, this year it was postponed due to the blizzard.

The levee will be held this Sunday, January 18th from 1:00 - 2:00 pm at Province House, Hollis Street. All are welcome and refreshments will be served.

What, you may ask, is a Levée?

The word levée is derived from the French verb "lever" which means to rise. French aristocrats used to receive guests in the morning after they got up. British sovereigns held their levées in the forenoon or early afternoon. When introduced in Canada, the levée was held by the Governor acting on behalf of the Monarch. Originally, only men were received at these events. The fur traders had the tradition of paying their respects to the Master of the Fort (their government representative) on New Year's Day. In modern-day Canada, the custom has become associated with New Year’s Day and adopted by the Governor General and Lieutenant-Governors for their Levées. Attending the Lieutenant Governor's levee is an annual ritual for many families.

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