For those of us in Hamilton, or nearby, that would like to get a glimpse of the Queen today (Thursday!). 
~ The Hamilton Spectator ~
There is hope for fans who weren't lucky enough to snare a ticket to see Her Majesty the Queen at Copps Coliseum.
Royal watchers should be able to catch a glimpse of the monarch as she exits from her motorcade outside the arena tomorrow afternoon. Hamilton police Inspector Bob Buck said there will be room for around 400 people behind barricades which will be set up on Bay Street between York Boulevard and Market Street.
It's standing room only, and it's outside, but the good news is that it's supposed to be warm -- 17 C -- and sunny. And it's the only option for members of the public who got shut out of the indoor festivities.
After visiting Sheridan College in Oakville -- there are no plan
s for a To leave the city for Toronto, the motorcade will head down Cannon to York Boulevard, passing the Hamilton cemetery, Dundurn Castle and the view of Cootes Paradise and the harbour from the High Level Bridge before getting back out onto the 403.
Buck said the motorcade will not be speeding but he couldn't say how quickly it would be moving -- again, the choice lies with the Queen.
Lieutenant-Colonel Geordie Elms of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders said the best vantage point for motorcade watchers would be the knoll outside Dundurn Castle along York Boulevard.
The RCMP, which is responsible for the Queen's safety during her 12-day visit to Canada, would not divulge details about the procession of vehicles or give specifics about the security plans. But RCMP Corporal Michele Paradis said their role is not to interfere with the Queen's interaction with the public.
"The last thing everybody wants to see is a whole bunch of security officers," she said. "You won't notice us, but we'll be there."viewing for the general public there -- Queen Elizabeth is expected to arrive in Hamilton around 2:40 p.m.
Her motorcade, escorted by RCMP officers and Hamilton police on motorcycles, will exit Highway 403 at York Boulevard and continue down a freshly-paved York Boulevard to Bay Street. The procession will turn right on Bay (briefly heading in the wrong direction) and pull up outside the main entrance at Copps.
An RCMP officer in red serge and a Hamilton police officer in dress uniform will open the door of the Queen's car, escorting her onto a red carpet. Before going inside, she will be greeted by dignitaries such as Mayor Bob Wade; an honorary colonel of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders; and the chief of land staff of the Canadian Forces.
There are no official plans for her to do any royal handshaking with the crowd, but she's been known to have impromptu walk abouts.
"The call is hers," said Buck, whose department is helping with crowd and traffic control, as well as the Queen's security during her one-hour visit.
John Elder, manager of programming for Hamilton Entertainment Convention Facilities Inc., said the public is encouraged to come to show their support for the monarch.
"I'm anticipating hundreds of people being there. The public response so far has been great," he said.
Buck said Bay Street from York to Market will be blocked off starting around noon tomorrow, with lane restrictions starting earlier in the day. People can line up behind the barricades any time after that.
His advice? "Get there early."
Other than Bay Street, roads will only be temporarily closed to allow the Queen's motorcade to roll through.
OPP Sergeant John Mason, who will be leading the procession on motorcycle down the QEW during the Queen's trip from Oakville, said police are not planning to shut down the QEW either.
He said police will do a series of "rolling blocks." These involve sending officers on motorcycles into the highway with flashing lights to slow traffic, giving the motorcade easy access to the QEW off the Trafalgar Road ramp and allowing the procession to move smoothly.
He said there will be a "minor, minor disruption" to the flow of traffic.
But Buck warns that traffic in downtown Hamilton will be chaotic after the Queen's stop in Hamilton, because around 17,000 people will be trying to leave Copps at the same time. York Boulevard will be temporarily blocked off after her departure.
Royal watchers who don't want to brave the crowds on Bay Street can catch a glimpse of her motorcade as it drives along York Boulevard coming into the city, or as it leaves Copps around 3:20 p.m.
Buck said her motorcade should be moving fairly slowly as it turns up Bay Street before turning left onto Cannon Street.
To leave the city for Toronto, the motorcade will head down Cannon to York Boulevard, passing the Hamilton cemetery, Dundurn Castle and the view of Cootes Paradise and the harbour from the High Level Bridge before getting back out onto the 403.
Buck said the motorcade will not be speeding but he couldn't say how quickly it would be moving -- again, the choice lies with the Queen.
Lieutenant-Colonel Geordie Elms of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders said the best vantage point for motorcade watchers would be the knoll outside Dundurn Castle along York Boulevard.
The RCMP, which is responsible for the Queen's safety during her 12-day visit to Canada, would not divulge details about the procession of vehicles or give specifics about the security plans. But RCMP Corporal Michele Paradis said their role is not to interfere with the Queen's interaction with the public.
"The last thing everybody wants to see is a whole bunch of security officers," she said. "You won't notice us, but we'll be there."
~ The Hamilton Spectator ~
There is hope for fans who weren't lucky enough to snare a ticket to see Her Majesty the Queen at Copps Coliseum.
Royal watchers should be able to catch a glimpse of the monarch as she exits from her motorcade outside the arena tomorrow afternoon. Hamilton police Inspector Bob Buck said there will be room for around 400 people behind barricades which will be set up on Bay Street between York Boulevard and Market Street.
It's standing room only, and it's outside, but the good news is that it's supposed to be warm -- 17 C -- and sunny. And it's the only option for members of the public who got shut out of the indoor festivities.
After visiting Sheridan College in Oakville -- there are no plan
s for a To leave the city for Toronto, the motorcade will head down Cannon to York Boulevard, passing the Hamilton cemetery, Dundurn Castle and the view of Cootes Paradise and the harbour from the High Level Bridge before getting back out onto the 403.
Buck said the motorcade will not be speeding but he couldn't say how quickly it would be moving -- again, the choice lies with the Queen.
Lieutenant-Colonel Geordie Elms of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders said the best vantage point for motorcade watchers would be the knoll outside Dundurn Castle along York Boulevard.
The RCMP, which is responsible for the Queen's safety during her 12-day visit to Canada, would not divulge details about the procession of vehicles or give specifics about the security plans. But RCMP Corporal Michele Paradis said their role is not to interfere with the Queen's interaction with the public.
"The last thing everybody wants to see is a whole bunch of security officers," she said. "You won't notice us, but we'll be there."viewing for the general public there -- Queen Elizabeth is expected to arrive in Hamilton around 2:40 p.m.
Her motorcade, escorted by RCMP officers and Hamilton police on motorcycles, will exit Highway 403 at York Boulevard and continue down a freshly-paved York Boulevard to Bay Street. The procession will turn right on Bay (briefly heading in the wrong direction) and pull up outside the main entrance at Copps.
An RCMP officer in red serge and a Hamilton police officer in dress uniform will open the door of the Queen's car, escorting her onto a red carpet. Before going inside, she will be greeted by dignitaries such as Mayor Bob Wade; an honorary colonel of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders; and the chief of land staff of the Canadian Forces.
There are no official plans for her to do any royal handshaking with the crowd, but she's been known to have impromptu walk abouts.
"The call is hers," said Buck, whose department is helping with crowd and traffic control, as well as the Queen's security during her one-hour visit.
John Elder, manager of programming for Hamilton Entertainment Convention Facilities Inc., said the public is encouraged to come to show their support for the monarch.
"I'm anticipating hundreds of people being there. The public response so far has been great," he said.
Buck said Bay Street from York to Market will be blocked off starting around noon tomorrow, with lane restrictions starting earlier in the day. People can line up behind the barricades any time after that.
His advice? "Get there early."
Other than Bay Street, roads will only be temporarily closed to allow the Queen's motorcade to roll through.
OPP Sergeant John Mason, who will be leading the procession on motorcycle down the QEW during the Queen's trip from Oakville, said police are not planning to shut down the QEW either.
He said police will do a series of "rolling blocks." These involve sending officers on motorcycles into the highway with flashing lights to slow traffic, giving the motorcade easy access to the QEW off the Trafalgar Road ramp and allowing the procession to move smoothly.
He said there will be a "minor, minor disruption" to the flow of traffic.
But Buck warns that traffic in downtown Hamilton will be chaotic after the Queen's stop in Hamilton, because around 17,000 people will be trying to leave Copps at the same time. York Boulevard will be temporarily blocked off after her departure.
Royal watchers who don't want to brave the crowds on Bay Street can catch a glimpse of her motorcade as it drives along York Boulevard coming into the city, or as it leaves Copps around 3:20 p.m.
Buck said her motorcade should be moving fairly slowly as it turns up Bay Street before turning left onto Cannon Street.
To leave the city for Toronto, the motorcade will head down Cannon to York Boulevard, passing the Hamilton cemetery, Dundurn Castle and the view of Cootes Paradise and the harbour from the High Level Bridge before getting back out onto the 403.
Buck said the motorcade will not be speeding but he couldn't say how quickly it would be moving -- again, the choice lies with the Queen.
Lieutenant-Colonel Geordie Elms of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders said the best vantage point for motorcade watchers would be the knoll outside Dundurn Castle along York Boulevard.
The RCMP, which is responsible for the Queen's safety during her 12-day visit to Canada, would not divulge details about the procession of vehicles or give specifics about the security plans. But RCMP Corporal Michele Paradis said their role is not to interfere with the Queen's interaction with the public.
"The last thing everybody wants to see is a whole bunch of security officers," she said. "You won't notice us, but we'll be there."
