9.31°C Vancouver

Nov 18, 2025 1:08 PM - Connect Newsroom - Ramandeep Kaur with files from The Canadian Press

Swedish royal visit begins in Ottawa as Canada highlights ties with Nordic partner

Share On
swedish-royal-visit-begins-in-ottawa-as-canada-highlights-ties-with-nordic-partner
King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia arrive at Rideau Hall during the start of their state visit to Canada. (Photo: The Canadian Press)

Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia are in Ottawa today as they begin a three-day state visit that includes meetings with federal leaders, military commemorations, and discussions on international security. The visit is the royal couple’s first trip to Canada in nearly two decades and comes at a time when both countries are deepening co-operation through NATO and shared support for Ukraine.

The King and Queen were formally welcomed at Rideau Hall this morning by a Canadian delegation that included Chief Justice Richard Wagner. Their program in the capital also features a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a symbolic gesture that aligns with Canada’s ongoing military commitments and remembrance traditions.

Later today, the royals are scheduled to meet Prime Minister Mark Carney and senior federal officials on Parliament Hill. The discussions are expected to touch on bilateral trade, defence co-operation, and Scandinavian investment in Canada, particularly as Swedish companies expand their presence in Western Canada’s clean-technology and transportation sectors.

Global Affairs Canada says the two governments will jointly reaffirm their support for Ukraine during an afternoon event that brings together Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, Sweden’s Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch, and members of the Ukrainian-Canadian community. Canada hosts one of the world’s largest Ukrainian diasporas, including substantial communities in Alberta and British Columbia.

A state dinner honouring the King and Queen will be held at Rideau Hall this evening, marking the ceremonial start of several engagements planned in both Ottawa and Montreal.

Latest news

surrey-driver-loses-lamborghini-after-alleged-197-km-h-speed-on-alex-fraser-bridge
BCFeb 06, 2026

Surrey driver loses Lamborghini after alleged 197 km/h speed on Alex Fraser Bridge

A Surrey man is facing steep fines, a vehicle impound, and long-term insurance penalties after police allege he was travelling at nearly three times the posted speed limit on the Alex Fraser Bridge earlier this week. BC Highway Patrol says officers observed a Lamborghini SUV moving significantly faster than surrounding traffic just after 8:00 p.m. on February 4. Using a laser speed reader, police clocked the vehicle at 197 kilometres per hour in a 70 kilometre per hour zone while it was heading northbound over the Delta span. Police say the 51-year-old driver was issued multiple violation tick
federal-government-tightens-return-to-office-rules-for-public-servants
CanadaFeb 06, 2026

Federal government tightens return-to-office rules for public servants

The federal government under Prime Minister Mark Carney has issued updated return-to-office requirements that will see most public servants spending more time working on-site each week. According to a notice from the Treasury Board, the changes will be introduced in phases. Executives will be required to work from the office five days a week starting May 4, while all other federal employees must report to the workplace at least four days per week beginning July 6. At present, most federal workers are required to be in the office three days a week under a hybrid work policy that came into effec
canada-records-job-losses-in-january-as-labour-market-shows-new-signs-of-strain
CanadaFeb 06, 2026

Canada records job losses in January as labour market shows new signs of strain

Canada’s economy took a step backward in January as the country recorded a net loss of about 25,000 jobs, according to the latest Labour Force Survey released by Statistics Canada. The decline marks the first monthly drop in employment since late summer and signals renewed pressure in key sectors tied to trade and construction. The manufacturing and construction industries experienced the sharpest losses, with economists pointing to ongoing trade uncertainty and U.S. tariff pressures as contributing factors. Private-sector employment and part-time work were particularly affected, while women
AlbertaFeb 06, 2026

TSB sending investigators after CN train derailment west of Edmonton

Federal transportation investigators are heading to central Alberta to examine a Canadian National Railway derailment that sent dozens of rail cars off the tracks west of Edmonton. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada confirmed it is deploying a team after 37 loaded train cars derailed Thursday near the hamlet of Wildwood, roughly 110 kilometres west of the provincial capital. The site is along a CN main line that carries a mix of freight through rural communities in the region. CN spokesperson Ashley Michnowski said preliminary information indicates the cars were loaded, but the company
AlbertaFeb 06, 2026

Airdrie youth hockey team honours junior players killed in Alberta highway crash

A youth hockey team from Airdrie is paying tribute to three junior players who died in a highway collision in southern Alberta by wearing and sharing memorial stickers during an upcoming tournament. The under-13 AA Airdrie Lightning team will place the stickers on their helmets and hand them out to opposing teams while competing in Regina this week. The stickers feature the jersey numbers of the players and the logo of the Southern Alberta Mustangs, the junior team the victims played for. The initiative was organized by a Lightning parent who ordered close to 100 stickers with the goal of keep

Related News