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Northern Rangers at Rideau Hall

Brodie Thomas
Northern News Services
Published Monday, November 17, 2008

TETILT'ZHEH/FORT MCPHERSON - Last April Governor General Michaelle Jean visited the Beaufort Delta. This October it was the Delta's turn to visit Jean.

Three women from Fort McPherson travelled to Rideau Hall to represent the Canadian Rangers and the Junior Rangers on Oct. 23 at the invitation of Jean.

The governor general was holding a reception to kick off the Royal Canadian Legion's 2008 poppy campaign.

Joanne Tetlichi, Jeanetta Prodromidis, and Darcy Stewart all received official invitations in the mail in September.

"It was on a postcard which was very fancy," said Tetlichi

Joanne is a long-time member of the Canadian Rangers while Prodromidis and Stewart are members of the Fort McPherson Junior Rangers. Stewart was chosen to attend because she was one of the Junior Rangers' "Top Shots" last year. Prodromidis was chosen because she took part in the Ranger's summer camp in Whitehorse.

The three were picked up in Fort McPherson by a military plane that took them to Yellowknife. From there they flew by commercial airlines to Ottawa.

They arrived three days before the reception so they had plenty of time to check out the sights and sounds of Canada's capital.

The three spent a lot of time at the malls around Ottawa, and also toured many official buildings such as Parliament and the Supreme Court.

"We saw Stephen Harper's house," said Prodromidis.

The three Rangers were picked up by an escort and dropped off at Rideau Hall, which is the governor general's residence.

"I think there were about a hundred people at the reception," said Tetlichi.

Once inside the three got to rub elbows with veterans and other military personnel who had also received invitations.

Prodromidis said no expense was spared at the lavish reception

"They were serving wine and glasses of water and a lot of fancy food," she said.

As a member of the governor general's staff introduced the three. Prodromidis's last name caught Jean's ear.

"She asked me if I was Greek and I said, 'yes,' and then she started talking in Greek to me," said Prodromidis.

However, Prodromidis said she doesn't actually speak much of the language and she only understood one of the words Jean said.

Still, all three were won over by Jean's charm and down-to-earth personality that so many people in the Delta commented on last April.

"She seemed cool," said Prodromidis.

After meeting with the governor general, Tetlichi, Prodromidis and Stewart were given a guided tour of Rideau Hall.

The next day they made the trip back to Fort McPherson, but they won't soon forget their trip.

"It was such a nice tour," said Tetlichi