Premier Cochrane issued the following statement on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II:

“I, along with residents of the Northwest Territories, am saddened to hear of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

“For 70 years, Her Majesty dedicated her life to making the world a better place. By devoting Herself to a life of service, she helped raise millions of dollars to support over 600 charities, military associations and public service organizations around the world.

“Many residents will remember The Queen’s two visits to the Northwest Territories. Her Majesty’s first visit was in 1970, making stops in Inuvik, Tuktoyaktuk, Yellowknife, Fort Smith, and Fort Providence. Alongside Her Majesty on this trip was her husband Prince Philip, and two of her children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne. During a radio address from Yellowknife, The Queen said she supported the development of the North – but by the people who inhabited the land, a belief many Northerners hold close to their hearts.

“24 years later in August 1994, The Queen returned to Yellowknife. It was during this visit that Her Majesty dedicated the newly built Legislative Assembly and celebrated the upcoming creation of Nunavut, as the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act and the Nunavut Act were passed by the Canadian Parliament just over a year earlier.

“As the longest-ruling Monarch in British history, Her Majesty is a well-known and beloved figure who has spent her life helping young people and supporting causes related to wildlife and the environment. The impact The Queen has had on the Commonwealth and the world as a whole cannot be measured. The legacy she has left will be remembered for generations as a reminder of what true dedication to service looks like.

“I send my deepest condolences to The Royal Family during this difficult and challenging time.”