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Ottawa Citizen

Exuberant crowds greet King Charles at Lansdowne and Rideau Hall

Article content It's a spade that was used by Queen Elizabeth II back in 2010 during her royal tour in Ottawa. Fifteen years later, the crowd sang God Save the King to honour the next generation of Buckingham leadership. Article content Article content Ahdithya Visweswaran is one of the youth counsellors on the youth council of the King's Trust of Canada who met King Charles III after the ceremony. He says it was a special moment filled with adrenalin, especially since the King 'immediately recognized his trust,' Visweswaran said. Article content 'I have to say he has a really great memory,' Visweswaran said of the King. 'He seemed to recognize and remember many of the folks within the organization.' Article content The King's Trust of Canada is an offshoot of the King's Trust in the United Kingdom that was created by Charles in 1976. Article content The organization is focused on helping Canada's underemployed and unemployed youth by closing the skills gap, the experience gap and the network gap, Cynthia Thorburn, the interim CEO for the King's Trust Canada, told the Ottawa Citizen. Article content Article content Article content The geopolitical and economic stakes couldn't be higher, as U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to annex Canada through economic force. Article content 'With threats for our economy, young people are going to be disproportionately hit,' Visweswaran said. 'For young people, everything that is economic uncertainty, it hits us in a lot more poignant way than perhaps other folks.' Article content After the visit, Visweswaran said he would journal and reflect on his interaction with the King of Canada. Article content 'I'm going to have to really sit with it,' Visweswaran said. Article content Dave Henderson is a royal watcher and a supply teacher. Henderson, who is from Belleville, arrived at the Rideau Hall grounds five hours early to be present for what he describes as a historic event. Article content Henderson was at the coronation where he stood in the rain to watch the whole parade. He describes it as the highlight of his life, alongside seeing the King at Rideau Hall on May 26 and singing both verses of God Save the King with another royal watcher. Article content Article content Article content He describes this royal tour as filled with symbolism. He points to the maple leaf broach worn by the Queen, which belonged to Queen Elizabeth II. Article content 'This is part of the symbolism that they excel at, little, tiny signs of support that, if you know what you're looking for, are very meaningful,' he said. Article content 'I think families can identify with that, because we all have our own family traditions and little keepsakes and things. Those mean a lot to families,' Henderson added. 'And the Royal Family is part of the Canadian family. That's why I think it's important.' Article content Jennifer McCurdy-Vachon is a teacher from Orléans. She was at the ceremony on Parliament Hill when the Queen visited in 2010. With the royals back in town, it's an opportunity McCurdy-Vachon couldn't pass up. Article content Article content For McCurdy-Vachon, the royal tour sends a message to the United States and the world that Canada is its own nation despite threats. Article content 'It sends a message to not just the United States, but to the world, that Canada is, while part of North America, a completely different country,' she said. Article content Henderson agrees: 'Having a visit like this at this time really drives the point home that we have our own institutions. And the King, the royal symbolism is everywhere if you look.' Article content