Queen arrives in Halifax at start of nine-day Canadian tour

Queen makes visit to Canada

TORONTO — Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip arrived in Canada on Monday for the start of a nine-day tour of a country she calls a second home.

The queen, wearing a yellow hat and a raincoat over her yellow suit, was officially welcomed to Halifax, Nova Scotia, by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and hundreds of Canadians who stood in a steady rain to get a glimpse.

The queen is the symbolic head of state in Canada, a member of the British Commonwealth of former colonies. She last visited Canada in 2005.

On Canada Day, she will be on Parliament Hill in Ottawa for celebrations of the country’s 143rd birthday. She visiting in part to mark the Canadian navy’s centennial.

The 84-year-old monarch has made 22 official visits to Canada since she becoming queen. Though Canadians are somewhat indifferent to the monarchy, most have great affection for the queen, whose silhouette marks their coins.

“My mother once said that this country felt like a home away from home for the Queen of Canada. Prime Minister, I’m delighted to report that it still does and I’m delighted to back amongst you all,” she said.

The queen said Canada is widely admired across the world and said she’s fortunate to have witnessed many of the developments and accomplishments of modern Canada.

“As Queen of Canada for nearly six decades my pride in this country remains undimmed. Thank you again for your welcome. It is very good to be home,” she said.

Harper said the queen has visited Canada more than any other commonwealth country.

“We are honored that you have given so generously of your time,” Harper said.

The trip ends on July 6 in Toronto and when it’s over the Queen and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, will also have made stops in Winnipeg and Waterloo, Ontario, where they planned to visit the headquarters of BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion.