BREAKING Veteran TSN sportscaster Darren Dutchyshen has died
Veteran TSN broadcaster Darren ‘Dutchy’ Dutchyshen, one of Canada’s best-known sports journalists, has died. He was 57.
Vanessa Nanthakumaran, who was the first person to get into Westminster Hall to see Queen Elizabeth II lying in state, says it has been "amazing to see the community come together" amid the funeral and mourning period for the Commonwealth's longest-reigning monarch.
Speaking to CTV News outside Royal Albert Hall in London following Monday's state funeral procession, Nanthakumaran said she wanted to be a part of the events following the Queen's death because of her family connections to the monarchy.
"My great uncle was knighted by King George VI, which was the Queen's father, and also he was invited for his coronation," she said.
"When I heard that news from my grandmother, I started to learn more about British history and [the] monarch."
Nanthakumaran, who is from Sri Lanka, which is a republic within the Commonwealth, says she has since looked up to the late monarch for her servitude and sense of duty.
"Our Queen actually captured everyone's heart. She was a great lady, reigned for 70 years, she had never shown any tightness or anything," she said.
"She's seen so much and been through so much."
Nanthakumaran added that Queen Elizabeth II will "always" be her Queen.
Nanthakumaran, who is from the London borough of Harrow, queued for more than 50 hours to get inside the lying in state at Westminster Hall to pay her respects.
Nanthakumaran was in position on Lambeth Bridge by noon on Sept. 12 -- two days before the lying in state opened to the public.
When she got inside, Nanthakumaran said it was overwhelming.
"When I got to the Westminster Hall to pay respect, I was so emotional. I was trying to control myself, not to be too emotional," she recalled.
As the first mourner inside to pay her respects, Nanthakumaran said it feels like she is part of history.
"I felt like, because I was the first person to enter, I felt like I am the only one there -- I had to be doing it properly," she said.
Nanthakumaran said she kept her eyes locked on the Queen's coffin and curtsied out of respect.
"I got to say a little prayer and say thank you for her great service," she said.
Following the 10 days of national mourning, a state funeral was held for Queen Elizabeth II on Monday.
The Queen, who died Sept. 8 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland at age 96, will be laid to rest at a private family ceremony Monday evening at Windsor Castle.
Veteran TSN broadcaster Darren ‘Dutchy’ Dutchyshen, one of Canada’s best-known sports journalists, has died. He was 57.
A Montreal father who kidnapped his daughter who has autism and lied to police when they asked where she was should serve three years in prison, a Crown prosecutor said.
Although a global workers' treaty has been in force in Canada since January, an employment lawyer believes it won't do anything more to protect employees from violence and harassment.
The Slovak interior minister said Thursday that a 'lone wolf' has been charged in the shooting that seriously wounded Prime Minister Robert Fico.
A man from B.C.'s Lower Mainland has been sentenced to four years behind bars after shooting a sex worker in the back during a drug-fuelled 43rd birthday.
Auto technology has evolved and many newer cars use wireless key fobs and push-button starters instead of traditional metal keys. But that technology also makes things easier for thieves.
Air quality warnings are still in place for some areas of Western Canada, according to the latest forecasts.
At least eight worshippers were killed and 16 others injured early Wednesday morning after a man attacked a mosque with a locally made explosive in northern Nigeria's Kano state, resulting in a fire outbreak, the police said.
The Saskatchewan RCMP wants you to know it’s not targeting drive-thrus to ticket people for using their fast food reward apps.
When Adam Kirschner wrote 'Slap Shot,' he never imagined the song would be embraced by his favourite team.
A team is ready to help an entangled North Atlantic right whale in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
A $200 reward is being offered by a North Vancouver family for the safe return of their beloved chicken, Snowflake.
Two daughters and a mother were reunited online 40 years later thanks to a DNA kit and a Zoom connection despite living on three separate continents and speaking different languages.
Mother's Day can be a difficult occasion for those who have lost or are estranged from their mom.
YES Theatre Young Company opened its acclaimed kids’ show, One Small Step, at Sudbury Theatre Centre on Saturday.
An Ottawa pizzeria is being recognized as one of the top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world.
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.