Hon. Tony Dean: Honourable senators, I rise to join you in commenting on the loss of Queen Elizabeth II, a loss that is echoing around this country, around the Commonwealth and indeed around the world.

A common theme this afternoon has been of the Queen as steadfast and unwavering, as a presence in a rapidly changing, uncertain and increasing unstable world. The Queen knew something about instability, didn’t she, having assumed her reign during the devastating impact of the Second World War. Her accession to the throne occurred after the war as our parents emerged from a brutal several years of devastating war. Little wonder then that our parents were gripped by the coronation in 1953. What a time of hope, a bright light, as the dust of a nasty war started to diminish and settle.

So many of us will have watched the events of the past two weeks through our parents’ eyes, a poignant moment indeed for all of us and a time of reflection about our parents and their lives, touching us in so many ways and at so many levels.

As a young woman growing up in the context of war, the Queen sent messages of hope to thousands of young Britons who were displaced by that war. As Queen, she never stopped communicating in tangible, heartfelt and meaningful ways that touched millions of people.

Paramount in this was her recognition of the work that ordinary people do. A queen talking to ordinary people in this country and in many other countries around the Commonwealth, to nurses, to factory workers, to soldiers, to farmers, to fishers and many beyond that. In doing that, she was a marvellous communicator.

Some of us will have seen Catherine Clark, the daughter of former prime minister Joe Clark, interviewed on the CBC, talking about an experience when she was 10 years old. She was at an event, one of a series of events that were increasingly boring to her. Having listened to the Queen talk, she was ready to get out of there but was told by her father that no one could leave the room before the Queen left the room.

She had a chat with the Queen, a little interchange, a friendly presence and retired to a seat nearest the door, I guess hoping that somehow she might escape. Around came the Queen and bumped into her again and said, “I see you’re still here.” And young Catherine Clark, as a 10-year-old would, said, “Well, yeah. I’ve been told that no one can leave before you do.” And the Queen — without missing a beat, reports Ms. Clark — said, “Well, come with me. Let’s walk out together.” What a lovely image. What a lovely moment.

A few years later — perhaps this is a bit of an adult encore — I met the Duke of Edinburgh. Of course, I took the opportunity to tell him that I was a recipient of his gold medal. I know the Duke of Edinburgh’s award scheme is very successful in Canada. The Duke, as he had been on previous occasions when I met him, was quick as a whip. He looked at my empty lapel. He said, “So, where’s your medal?” I said, “Well, it’s at home.” And, again, in a nanosecond, he said, “Well, I see you only bring it out for special occasions then.” Unfortunately, it’s a true story.

To those of us in the U.K. with working-class roots, our experience of the Queen and the monarchy has been ambiguous at best, and I think some of you will likely share that feeling. It was hard in my younger days to separate out the Queen from monarchical structures, not only in the U.K. but around the world. But over decades of watching the Queen, of listening to her, that ambiguity steadily cleared and evaporated with age — not her age, my age.

It has been a tough couple of weeks. We’ve all reflected on previous generations and, as I said earlier, especially our parents’. Colleagues, we’ve lost a pillar of stability during a period of deep uncertainty around the world and in Canada. This is my closing remark: As we think about how this void will be filled — and some of us have worried about that, haven’t we? What will we do without that enduring presence and stability? As we think about that, let’s not forget our own role and responsibility in promoting responsible dialogue, compromise and inclusion with dignity, grace and humility, as my colleague Senator Duncan said a few moments ago. In doing that, we’ll honour the Queen and we’ll honour Canadians. Thank you, colleagues.