OTTAWA – U.S. President Barack Obama arrived to Parliament Hill Wednesday for his long-awaited speech to senators and members of Parliament.
Obama was greeted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, before the trio ventured into a crowd of gathered schoolchildren to shake hands and exchange high-fives.
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In what’s likely Obama’s last visit to Canada, the U.S. president addressed a rapt joint session of the House of Commons and the Senate, basking in a cascade of applause and heaping praise on the country’s young new prime minister.
In addition to members of Parliament and senators, more than 200 others were invited to hear Obama address the House of Commons.
They include municipal and provincial politicians, Canadian musicians, business leaders and the chairs of Pride parades in four Canadian cities, as well as political staffers, high-ranking civil servants and academics.
Here’s a list of some of the guests:
Rachel Notley, premier of Alberta;
Brian Pallister, premier of Manitoba;
Robert R. McLeod, premier of Northwest Territories;
Kathleen Wynne, premier of Ontario;
Philippe Couillard, premier of Quebec;
Jean-Guy Whiteduck, chief Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg;
Natan Obed, president, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami;
Clement Chartier, president of the Metis National Council;
Dwight Dorey, national chief, Council of Aboriginal Peoples;
Dawn Lavell-Harvard, president, Native Women’s Association of Canada;
Claude Elliott, mayor of Gander, N.L.;
Don Darling, mayor of Saint John, N.B.;
Sheila Copps, former member of Parliament and deputy prime minister;
Irwin Cotler, former member of Parliament and minister of justice;
Michael Wernick, clerk of the Privy Council;
Michel Couloumbe, director, Canadian Security Intelligence Service;
Greta Bossenmaier, chief of Communications Security Establishment;
Charlie Lowthian-Rickert, transgender 10-year-old who spoke up in favour of new legislation protecting transgender rights;
Richard Terfry, a.k.a. rapper Buck 65;
Robert Baker and Gordon Sinclair of the Tragically Hip;
Ashley Burnham, Mrs. Universe 2015;
Measha Bruggergosman, singer;
Megan Follows, actress;
Nelly Furtado, singer;
Vincent Lam, author;
Heather Moyse, Olympian.