Sloppy proof reading of a bilingual plaque unveiled by the Queen at Canada’s main diplomatic mission in London cost Canadian taxpayers about $4,000 to repair just three letters.
The plaque was the centrepiece of a gala reopening of Canada’s high commission, known as Canada House, in Trafalgar Square on Feb. 19. But the large bronze plaque contained an embarrassing spelling mistake that diplomatic staff failed to notice until after the splashy event.
The French-language part of the plaque referred to “Premier Minister Stephen Harper,” rather than the correct “Premier ministre Stephen Harper” – an error the staff did not spot when checking the proofs of the original order.
That meant three letter changes were required for a fix: a lower-case “m,” and reversal of the “e” and “r.” In French, the title “Premier ministre,” when written before the name of a sitting prime minister, normally takes a capital “P” and a small “m.”
The plaque was dismounted and returned to the British firm where it was first manufactured. Workers ground down the three bad letters, cast three new letters, then pinned and glued them to the metal base.
The fixed plate was grit-blasted, re-patinated and re-laquered to look new again, a process that took more than a month. The plaque was installed again inside the building in early September.
The final repair bill was about $4,000 – or about a quarter of the $16,000 the Canadian government paid for the original work.
Details of the errors and repairs were obtained by CBC News under the Access to Information Act.The sloppy proofreading appears to be the result of Canada’s last-minute rush order to the foundry in January this year.
The Feb. 19 event was to celebrate the refurbishment of Canada House, with guests of honour the Queen and Prince Philip. The posh gathering cost taxpayers about $209,000 for a few hours that featured fine wine, a breakfast buffet and four Mounties in red tunics standing guard.
The Queen, who is bilingual, pulled the cord on a lush red curtain to unveil the bronze plaque with its French spelling error, though no one appeared to spot the problem at the time.
“It was noticed by a staff member soon after its unveiling … but the high commission had to find a time when it would be least disruptive to business at the mission to have it removed and to coincide with the foundry being able to carry out the work,” Diana Khaddaj, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Affairs Department, has been quoted by CBC.
The bronze plaque has had a history of its own-most of it bizarre
After it was cast in January – but before the Feb. 19 unveiling – then foreign affairs minister John Baird quit his post. His name was commemorated in bronze along with the Feb. 19 date of the event, even though it was inaccurate because he had been replaced by then. Baird paid his way to the gala anyway, but participated as an MP only. And the bronze plate as first delivered had a flaw.
“The plaque arrived slightly warped, which didn’t affect its appearance but made it slightly more difficult to hang,” said Khaddaj. “There was no need to repair it. The foundry provided us with a small rebate on the final price.”
Canada House was first opened in 1925, and was recently given a massive refit and restoration, paid for in part from the $562.5-million sale of another diplomatic property in London, Macdonald House, in 2014.
January 13, 2016 at 8:47 AM
Thanks so much for the blog article.Really thank you! Really Cool.
January 13, 2016 at 6:46 AM
Thanks so much for the blog.Thanks Again. Will read on…
January 13, 2016 at 4:44 AM
I value the article.Really thank you!
January 13, 2016 at 2:43 AM
Thanks for sharing, this is a fantastic article. Fantastic.
January 13, 2016 at 12:50 AM
Your style is really unique in comparison to other folks I ave read stuff from. Thank you for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I will just bookmark this page.
January 13, 2016 at 12:44 AM
Im obliged for the blog article. Will read on…
January 12, 2016 at 11:52 PM
Im grateful for the post.Really looking forward to read more. Much obliged.
January 12, 2016 at 10:44 PM
Really appreciate you sharing this post. Will read on…
January 12, 2016 at 10:12 PM
You made some nice points there. I did a search on the subject matter and found most people will agree with your site.
January 12, 2016 at 8:44 PM
Major thankies for the blog post. Cool.
January 12, 2016 at 8:35 PM
Really enjoyed this article post. Will read on…
January 12, 2016 at 6:44 PM
Thanks for the blog article.Thanks Again. Really Cool.
January 12, 2016 at 5:13 PM
Fantastic article.Thanks Again. Really Cool.
January 12, 2016 at 4:44 PM
Thanks for sharing, this is a fantastic blog article.Really thank you! Great.
January 12, 2016 at 4:42 PM
Thanks-a-mundo for the article. Great.
January 12, 2016 at 3:56 PM
I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your site. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more pleasant for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme? Fantastic work!
January 12, 2016 at 2:41 PM
Im obliged for the blog post.Much thanks again. Awesome.
January 12, 2016 at 1:54 PM
Thanks for the article post. Great.
January 12, 2016 at 12:40 PM
Appreciate you sharing, great article.Thanks Again. Keep writing.
January 12, 2016 at 10:38 AM
I appreciate you sharing this blog post.Really thank you! Really Great.
January 12, 2016 at 10:13 AM
Lovely just what I was searching for.Thanks to the author for taking his clock time on this one.
January 12, 2016 at 8:36 AM
I am so grateful for your blog article.Really thank you! Want more.
January 12, 2016 at 6:32 AM
Im thankful for the blog article.Thanks Again. Fantastic.
January 12, 2016 at 4:29 AM
Fantastic article.Much thanks again.
January 12, 2016 at 2:25 AM
I value the blog post. Want more.
January 12, 2016 at 12:21 AM
Really informative blog. Will read on…
January 11, 2016 at 10:17 PM
A round of applause for your article post.Thanks Again. Great.
January 11, 2016 at 8:11 PM
I really enjoy the blog post. Will read on…
January 11, 2016 at 6:07 PM
Muchos Gracias for your blog.Really looking forward to read more. Will read on…
January 11, 2016 at 5:44 PM
There is clearly a bundle to know about this. I believe you made some good points in features also.
January 11, 2016 at 4:20 PM
You could definitely see your expertise in the work you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to say how they believe. Always go after your heart.
January 11, 2016 at 4:02 PM
Thank you ever so for you blog post.Really thank you! Want more.
January 11, 2016 at 1:57 PM
This is one awesome article.Really looking forward to read more.
January 11, 2016 at 11:53 AM
Enjoyed every bit of your blog.Thanks Again.
January 11, 2016 at 11:38 AM
Thanks again for the article post. Really Great.
January 11, 2016 at 9:49 AM
Im thankful for the blog post.Much thanks again. Great.
January 11, 2016 at 7:45 AM
I really like and appreciate your article post.Much thanks again. Much obliged.
January 9, 2016 at 12:24 PM
Thanks for sharing, this is a fantastic blog post.Thanks Again. Cool.
January 9, 2016 at 9:42 AM
Major thankies for the blog post.Really looking forward to read more. Want more.
January 9, 2016 at 7:01 AM
Would you be eager about exchanging links?
January 9, 2016 at 4:20 AM
Regards for helping out, wonderful info.
January 9, 2016 at 1:39 AM
I saw two other comparable posts although yours was the most beneficial so a lot
January 8, 2016 at 10:58 PM
Thanks for sharing this very good piece. Very inspiring! (as always, btw)
January 8, 2016 at 8:16 PM
to carry this out efficiently, appropriately and safely.
January 8, 2016 at 5:35 PM
There as noticeably a bundle to learn about this. I assume you made sure nice points in features also.
January 8, 2016 at 2:55 PM
logiciel lire mkv logiciel amplificateur wifi
January 8, 2016 at 12:10 PM
That is a really good tip particularly to those new to the blogosphere. Simple but very accurate info Thanks for sharing this one. A must read article!
January 8, 2016 at 9:26 AM
If you want to grow your familiarity just keep visiting this web
January 3, 2016 at 2:03 AM
btT0x4 Very nice post and straight to the point. I am not sure if this is actually the best place to ask but do you guys have any thoughts on where to hire some professional writers? Thank you
December 31, 2015 at 6:55 PM
If some one wishes to be updated with most recent
technologies then he must be visit this site and be up to date all
the time.