Windsor City Hall was illuminated purple Thursday night to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II and will remain so during the national mourning period.
That's not all.
The City of Windsor is planning public events and other commemorations in her honour.
The 96-year-old Monarch ended her 70-year rein on Thursday when she died at Balmoral in Scotland.
The City of Windsor is also preparing a Book of Condolences the public can sign expressing their thoughts about the Queen. A release issued Friday morning said it would be available in the coming week in the lobby of City Hall. The city will keep one copy for its archives. A second will go to the Commonwealth, and a digitized book will go into the Museum Windsor database.
School boards have been asked to encourage students to submit artwork for inclusion in the Book of Condolences.
Street pole banners marking the Queen's passing have been ordered. The Mayor's Office said they'll be hoisted in neighbourhoods across Windsor, through business improvement areas, and along the waterfront.
Plans for a public memorial service at All Saints' Anglican Church in City Hall Square are underway. The custom is to hold those gatherings there when monarchs pass away. A date still needs to be set, but the event will include a procession.
The public will be invited to watch the funeral proceedings, possibly at the Riverfront Festival Plaza, but the time, date, and location are still to be determined.
The Parks Department is developing new commemorative signage to re-dedicate the Queen Elizabeth II Sunken Gardens at Jackson Park. City staff will install those in the coming weeks.
The city is also considering a permanent commemorative art installation in Her Majesty's honour.
“The world lost a leader with quiet influence and immeasurable grace. A family also lost their mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. For many, The Queen was a fixture throughout our entire lives. Her lifetime of service will be honoured and treasured, recognized and debated in the coming days and weeks,” said Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens on Thursday. “The Queen participated in, and lived through such significant moments in our shared history and her contributions cannot be overstated.”
