The Lieutenant Governor’s New Year’s Day Levee
What is a “levee” and how did the New Year’s Day Levee come about?
The tradition of a levee started in the 17th century with King Louis XIV! It originated as a custom of welcoming select subjects to the king’s bedchamber at the start of a new day. The custom spread into Great Britain in the 18th century as a formal court reception hosted for men in the early afternoon.
The association between the levee and New Year’s Day began in Canada as this was the day that fur traders paid their respects to their government representatives.
The first formal Canadian levee was recorded on January 1st, 1646 in the Chateau St. Louis by Charles Huault de Montmagny, the Governor of New France (later Québec). During the levee, the governor greeted residents.
Over the years, New Year's levees have become almost solely a Canadian observance, although kinds of levees still exist in other countries.
What is the history of the New Year’s Day Levee in Saskatchewan?
On January 1st, 1884, Lieutenant Governor Edgar Dewdney held the first New Year’s Day Levee in what is now known as Saskatchewan.
The Government House of 1884 was little more than two draughty, clapboard dwellings joined to make one cold, temporary structure on the edge of Wascana Creek, located near the site of the present RCMP Depot. Only men were invited to the first levee, where they renewed acquaintances with the elite of frontier society.
Lieutenant Governor Joseph Royal moved into the present Government House in October of 1891 and continued the levee tradition in more comfortable surroundings.
In 1902, adopting a more democratic approach, Lieutenant Governor Amédeé Forget opened the New Year’s Levee to the public. The “public” however was still exclusively male, as women were still not permitted to attend. The cancellation of the New Year’s Day Levee of 1905, due to Forget’s poor health, was met with general disappointment and the tradition returned in 1906.
In 1910, special buses were dispatched every ten minutes from Regina’s downtown to transport the hundreds of callers eager to enjoy Vice-Regal hospitality. The New Year’s Day Levee continued to be a popular tradition for decades.
In 1945, Government House was converted into a rehabilitation hospital for veterans returning from World War II. In keeping with popular tradition, Lieutenant Governor Reginald J.M. Parker continued to host the Levee at the Hotel Saskatchewan, which had become the official office of the Lieutenant Governor. The Levee was held at Hotel Saskatchewan until the early 1970s, when it was cancelled due to lagging popularity.
In 1985, following the return of the Vice-Regal Office to the newly restored Government House, Lieutenant Governor F.W. Johnson and Mrs. Joyce Johnson re-introduced the New Year’s Levee. The Vice-Regal couple welcomed men and, for the first time, women to the New Year’s Day festivities.
The Levee was not held in 2021 or 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was held again in 2023 and remains a popular yearly celebration open to all. The Lieutenant Governor greets guests in a receiving line and visitors are welcome to tour the rest of Government House all decked out for the festive season and enjoy punch, sherry and other refreshments in the ballroom.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2025 Levee.
Hope to see you next year!
Visit the 2025 Levee Photo Gallery Here
