EDMONTON, CANADA.- Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will designate the Provincial Museum of Alberta as the Royal Alberta Museum during her visit to the museum on May 24. The museum's grounds will serve as the setting for an exciting day of free festivities and events for all visitors. Premier Ralph Klein, Gary Mar, Minister of Community Development responsible for museums in Alberta, and a host of special guests and dignitaries will greet Her Majesty.

Queen Elizabeth II will visit the museum, meet its staff, volunteers and visitors, and she will also meet local school children participating in special museum activities.

"The visit by Her Majesty The Queen will undoubtedly be remembered as a significant part of Alberta's history and our centennial celebrations," said Mar. "During her long reign, Queen Elizabeth II has worked to build bridges of understanding and development around the world that exemplify the same principles and values of this government's vision for a renewed museum."

The program, which runs from 9:30 a.m. to noon will be complete with music, dance, art and family activities all created to capture the story of Alberta's people-past, present and future. The program will close with a dramatic and memorable unveiling ceremony. Visitors will enjoy live performances by the St. Albert Community Band, Mattierin Irish Dance, country music singer / songwriter Mike Gouchie, Kita No Taiko (drums of Japan), French-Canadian chanteuse and gospel artist Janelle, and the musical fusion-jazz of Razor's Edge. Following the close of the official program visitors are invited to experience the museum free of charge from 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Due to the high volume of traffic expected at the event, there will be no parking on site or in the immediate neighbourhood. Access to the site will be by walk-in only, with special drop-off lanes remaining open on 102 Avenue. Enhanced Edmonton Transit System service will be in effect before and during the festivities-routes #1 and #120 travel to and from the museum, departing from downtown and west Edmonton. People-mover golf carts will be available on site for those with limited mobility.