Dedication
Figure 2: Official Plaque
During the Queen's visit in July of 1959 Mayor William Hawrelak made the following dedication speech in Coronation Park:
"Your most gracious Majesty, we most humbly pray that you may be pleased to be assured of the sincere and enduring loyalty of the people of the City of Edmonton. Your devoted subjects desire respectfully to extend to your Majesty and to His Royal Highness Prince Philip, a most cordial and enthusiastic welcome to Coronation Park.
"You have now set foot on an area of Canadian soil that was named in honour of your coronation as Queen and Sovereign of the British Empire.
"We trust that the character of the welcome the Citizens of Edmonton extend to you here will be in keeping with the spirit of your visit.
"In commemoration of this Royal Visit in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and fifty-nine, it is the wish of your loyal and devoted people to erect a building of masonry, brick, and stone at this location. A structure that will serve during the years ahead as a practical and pleasurable monument to perpetuate the memory of this great occasion. The aesthetic value of this Planetarium will soon give the development of the Canadian parkland, an additional beauty dedicated to the welfare and convenience of our citizens. May it always be in keeping with the spirit in which you come to us, friendly, warm hearted and sincere.
"In commemoration of this Royal Visit in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and fifty-nine, it is the wish of your loyal and devoted people to erect a building of masonry, brick, and stone at this location. A structure that will serve during the years ahead as a practical and pleasurable monument to perpetuate the memory of this great occasion. The aesthetic value of this Planetarium will soon give the development of the Canadian parkland, an additional beauty dedicated to the welfare and convenience of our citizens. May it always be in keeping with the spirit in which you come to us, friendly, warm hearted and sincere.
"We respectfully request of your Majestys' permission to name this building The Queen Elizabeth II Planetarium. In your presence today we humbly demonstrate our allegiance, our gratitude and our affection."
The Queen Elizabeth II Planetarium was designed to be the main focal point of Coronation Park. The building itself was designed by the architect R.F. Duke, and constructed by R.V. Coambs Construction Limited. At the time of its construction, and for a few years afterward the Planetarium was the only structure in Coronation Park. Coronation Pool was started in 1967 as a Centennial project and was opened in 1970. The Coronation Arena was opened in 1970, and the Commonwealth Lawn Bowling Club was constructed between 1975 & 1978. The last bit of construction within the area of Coronation Park was the Edmonton Space Sciences Centre which was finished in 1983, which has gone through a number of renovations and additions since 1983.