Queen Elizabeth officially opened the Loyalist Parkway—Highway 33 between Kingston and Trenton—in a ribbon cutting ceremony at the parkway gates before thousands of onlookers.

She and Prince Philip arrived at the $68,000 gates erected on either side of one of the oldest roads in Ontario at Fairfeld Historic Park—about 5:45 pm.

After being greeted by Ernestown Township Reeve Jack Kippen and wife, the Queen was honored with her anthem. It was played by Ernestown Secondary School Senior Concert Band under direction of Glenn Sorenson. It was sung by The Parr Christie Singers.

Then Her Majesty, with Minister Snow, cut the ribbon thereby renaming Highway 33 the Loyalist Parkway—a road with a history deeply entwined with that of the United Empire Loyalists.

Thousands watch queen open Parkway

Somewhere between 15,000 and 20,000 people crammed Highway 33 at Fairfield Park area in Amherstview September 27, all for a glimpse of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip.

Host Reeve Jack Kippen of Ernestown says Her Majesty agreed with him when he told her that despite the cool temperature, the hearts of Ernestown and the area people are warm. This was just as she and Prince Phillip stepped onto the royal yacht Britannia and bade farewell to Amherstview.

Some enthusiasts were at the historic sites on the royal tour at 11 am the morning of Her Majesty’s arrival. Shuttle buses transported passengers from 2:30 to 4:30 pm.

It wasn’t until after the buses stopped running that you could really see the group assembling said Reeve Kippen, a principle with the Frontenac County Board of Education.

Kippen said people were lined up along Highway 33 from Fairfield Park through Collins Bay and on the Collins Bay Rd. The estimated attendance figure—obtained by him from security officials—doesn’t include the Collins Bay Area crowd.

The Reeve said he was pleased with the response of the crowd.