The series consists mostly of records pertaining to the period during which Roméo LeBlanc was the 25th Governor General of Canada, in office from February 8, 1995 to October 8, 1999. Some records concern the time during which he was Governor General-Designate, from the official announcement of his appointment on November 22, 1994 to his investiture. Most of the records were generated by staff of the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General, a government agency which supports the governor general in fulfilling his or her constitutional, state, ceremonial and other traditional responsibilities. Some records, providing briefing information to the Governor General with respect to foreign countries, originated with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
Several records in the series pertain to his parlimentary responsibilities as the Crown's representative in Canada. In 1996 and 1997 he delivered the Speech from the Throne opening sessions of the 35th and 36th Parliaments and on three occasions gave Royal Ascent to amendments to the Constitution of Canada, in 1997 and 1998. In 1999, he issued a royal proclamation announcing the creation of the territory of Nunavut. He also presided over the swearing-in ceremonies of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, The Chief Justice of Canada and cabinet ministers. In addition to his parliamentary role the Governor General is Commander-in-chief of Her Majesty's Canadian Forces. In that capacity, Romeo LeBlanc visited military bases across Canada, carried out military inspections and performed ceremonial duties such as the presenting military honours, general officer certificates and colours.
In recognition of the achievements of Canadians, His Excellency, representing The Queen as the fount of the Canadian honours system, presented awards, decorations and medals such as the Order of Canada, the Order of Military Merit and the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem. He also presented the series of awards in various fields named in honour of the Governor General of Canada such as the Literary Award, the Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement and Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case.
Reflecting his unofficial, personal mandate Roméo LeBlanc gave support to causes related to his personal interests. In 1996, he established the Governor General's Caring Canadian Award in recognition of selfless voluntarism in Canada and proclaimed June 21 as National Aboriginal Day, an annual observance to acknowledge the culture history and contribution of Canada's aboriginal peoples. In the same year, he established the Governor General's Award for Excellence in Teaching Canadian History. In 1999, in collaboration with the Canadian Council for the Arts, he created the Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts. Also, in 1999 he oversaw the launch of the Governor General's Canadian History Medal for the Millennium, a one-time only award, and the issue of the Governor General's Millennium Edition of the Map of Canada which was distributed to Canadian schools.
Numerous official functions took place at Rideau Hall in Ottawa and at the Citadelle in Quebec, the two official residences maintained by the Governor General in Canada. Such events included visits by heads of state, dignitaries and diplomats, courtesy calls, the presentation of awards, decorations and medals, launches, and the hosting of receptions, dinners and other types of events in honour of individuals, groups and organizations, including organizations of which the Governor General was patron. He hosted traditional annual events at Rideau Hall such as the Winter Party for the diplomatic corps, the Garden Party and the Children's Christmas Party. During his tenure, Roméo LeBlanc undertook changes at Rideau Hall to improve public access to the residence and grounds notably, increasing the number of public activities and in 1997, establishing a designated visitor centre. The series contains information regarding maintenance of the official residences and donations of furnishings, paintings and other artifacts through the Canadiana Fund.
The series also contains briefing materials pertaining to state and official visits abroad by His Excellency and reception of foreign visitors in Canada. Representing Canada's Head of State, the Governor General received letters of credence from ambassadors and letters of commission from high comissioners. Visiting abroad, Romeo LeBlanc was the first Canadian Governor General to make a state visit to the Czech Republic in 1996, to India and Pakistan (with a stop-over in United Arab Emirates) in 1998 and to the African continent, to Côte d'Ivoire, Tanzania, Mali and Morocco (with a stop-over in Senegal) in 1999. Records pertaining to foreign visits include country profiles, maps and information sheets containing a large variety of information regarding foreign countries such as geographic, social, cultural, economic and internal political conditions, political systems, historical events, bilateral and multilateral international relations and issues of interest to Canada. The series also contains overviews and objectives of foreign visits to Canada and state and official visits by the Governor General.
As Governor General, Roméo LeBlanc made a number of regional visits and civic calls within all Canadian provinces and the Yukon Territory, although most of these visits took place in the provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick. He attended anniversary celebrations, visited schools and hospitals, presented awards, honours and coats of arms, and participated in such events as openings and unveilings. He attended conferences and university convocations and was awarded with honorary degrees. The records associated with these visits include local and regional background, historical and statistical information. He attended numerous cultural and sporting events and participated in National celebrations such as Canada Day, and National Remembrance Day.
The majority of files in this series consist of versions of programs, scenarios of events, guest lists, table and seating plans and other plans regarding arrangement and movement of participants, outlines of arrival and departure procedures and orders of ceremony and precedence. Other records include briefing books, speeches, official and private correspondence, lists, invitations and greeting cards, menus and wine lists, inventories, schedules and planning calendars, budgets and hand-written notes. They also contain news releases, press clippings, photographs, reports, proposals, brochures and other promotional materials.
