As news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II broke around the world, on the Sunshine Coast, flags lowered and sales rose as residents reacted to the end of the monarch’s life and reign.
On Sept. 8, several people flocked to Little Brit of Heaven, a British groceries and sweets shop offering both imported and local goods on Cowrie Street in Sechelt. Along with wares for sale, the shop includes a collection of decor and memorabilia. Magazine covers of the late Princess Diana’s smiling face line display shelves with special edition books of the royal family. A lifesize cutout of a young Queen Elizabeth II in 1956 smiles from the corner.
Patrons came in to snap up items bearing the late Majesty’s name, including tins released for her Jubilee that will now surely be collectors’ items. Co-owner Rachel Lobb, who was raised by British parents and married a Londoner (husband and shop co-owner Tony), said that the “God Save the Queen” tins have been a popular purchase in the first two days.
Although their displays remain the same and their doors will stay open, the atmosphere at the shop has been sad, Lobb said.
“I think whether people agree or not with the monarchy, everyone can agree that she was dedicated to her role — it was a lifelong dedication. And there's a lot of respect that goes with that. She definitely always had that strong presence,” Lobb said. “It was always duty before family.”
People have come to Little Brit of Heaven with their own memorabilia and to share their stories. So many have called in their condolences that Lobb set up a book where people can write a message to the royal family, and Lobb will mail it. One regular patron travels from Gibsons to the Sechelt shop several times a week, Lobb says, just to have a visit. To expats, the store offers a little bit of home.
While Lobb doesn’t plan to organize an event for the Queen’s death, she said they may coordinate something for the coronation of King Charles III. She expressed discomfort with the thought of profiting from someone’s death. “At this point, we’re just paying our respects,” she said. “‘Keep calm and carry on,’ stiff upper lip and all that.”
Other cherished items Sunshine Coast residents have to remind them of the Queen are the letters sent to Canadians as they celebrate their 100th or 105th birthday (and birthdays past that) or a couple’s 60th anniversary of marriage. That tradition began with King George V in 1917, and was carried on by Elizabeth. While she herself never arrived on the Coast, her letters did reach local mailboxes. On the Coast, the last census said at least 10 residents in 2021 were 100 years or older.
Of her 96 years of life, Queen Elizabeth II spent 70 of them upon the throne of Britain. She travelled to Canada many times over the decades, visiting the province of British Columbia on royal tour seven times, the first time when she was still known as Princess Elizabeth. The last visit to B.C. was in October 2002 for her Golden Jubilee. During her stop in Vancouver, she dropped the puck at a NHL exhibition game.
Flying at half mast
When Keith Brind stepped into the Royal Legion Branch 109 in Gibsons on Thursday afternoon, the atmosphere was quiet. The half-a-dozen patrons were not playing pool or billiards or darts. Brind, a member of the Legion’s executive, said he expects the Queen’s death to be a popular topic of discussion between members at upcoming meetings and the Friday evening dinner.
“I guess we're not surprised. We knew she wasn't doing well the last few weeks, but, of course, with her death it's the end of an era. It's the end of almost like a dynasty — 70 years on the throne,” Brind reflected.
“There’s going to be a great sense of loss,” he said for the Queen as an individual and as a monarch.
He said the monarch “had respect the world over” because of “her sense of duty, her sense of carrying on, often in difficult times.” Brind pointed to her recent appointment of Liz Truss as the new prime minister of the United Kingdom only two days prior to her passing. Truss became the 15th prime minister the Queen appointed during the Queen’s reign. The occasion marked her last public and photographed appearance.
Outside, the Gibsons Legion’s flag had been lowered to half mast. “I'm sure that's the case with many of our flags across the country today,” Brind said.
At the Sunshine Coast Regional District committee of the whole meeting of Sept. 8, the chair Alton Toth said the SCRD will be following the procedure on flag lowering. The District of Sechelt announced later that afternoon that its flags “are flying at half mast in remembrance and respect for Queen Elizabeth II. May she Rest in Peace.”
With files from Connie Jordison
