The records in this accession were created and maintained by the State Ceremonial Branch of the Secretary of State, and transferred to the National Archives by the Department of Canadian Heritage who assumed some of the functions of the Secretary of State when it became defunct. The records are arranged according to the Department's subject classification system and fall within the 7000 file-block. The records relate to State Ceremonial Branch areas of work including, but not limited to: Government of Canada buildings; national anthems, patriotic songs such as God Save the Queen (King), and suggestions for other anthems; Canadian (public and private), provincial, territorial, and Royal arms; heraldry, emblems, seals and other Canadian symbols; national, provincial, and municipal celebrations and ceremonies commemorating events of national significance throughout Canada including Christmas, Remembrance Day, Thanksgiving Day, Flag Day, and Canada Day; festivals such as Festival Canada; awards and decorations such as the Heart of Courage and the Order of Canada; deaths, burials and funerals (of many people arranged alphabetically by last name within the regular classification scheme); flags of Canada, of the Provinces and Territories, of International organizations and other countries; and of the Lieutenant Governors; policy and protocol related to the flying of flags; the use of Parliament Hill; the Dominion Carilloneur; precedence; provincial matters, administrators and statutes; salutes, saluting and other matters of state protocol; statues and portraits of former Prime Ministers; Canadian officials visiting other countries; important persons visiting Canada such as the Pope and members of the Royal family.
The records include: correspondence; requests from the public; press releases; notes; lists; summaries; briefing material; applications; memoranda; plans; programs; agenda; speeches; proposals, requests, and other records documenting Canada Day celebrations; visitor statistics; budget plans; invitations, menus and other records related to the planning of special events.
