Charitable donation, books, mukluks among Canadian gifts for royal baby

OTTAWA – Canada is celebrating the arrival of the royal baby with official gifts in honour of the new Prince George.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a donation by the government of $100,000 to a Canadian child-focused charity to mark the royal birth, in addition to offering a Canadian-handcrafted blanket “reflective of our country’s rich and diverse culture.”

Harper and his wife, Laureen, and Gov. Gen. David Johnston and his wife, Sharon, are also offering a personal present to the infant heir to the throne: a selection of Canadian children’s books in both official languages.

Assembly of First Nations Chief Shawn Atleo and his wife, Nancy, have sent mukluks and mocassins from an aboriginal-owned Canadian company, Manitobah Mukluks, to the son of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

And the mayor of Prince George, B.C., Shari Green, said a gift basket is being prepared for the prince who shares a name with the central B.C. city. It will include a baby shirt with a logo of Mr P.G., the city mascot.

The young prince is third in line to be king of Canada.