2024 is L.M. Montgomery’s 150th birthday! The L.M. Montgomery Institute (LMMI) at the University of Prince Edward Island is celebrating with 150 tributes – celebratory statements or greetings – that reflect upon personal connections to Montgomery or on an aspect of her life, work, or legacy.
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Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado of Japan, International Patron of the L.M. Montgomery Institute since 2004, welcomes you to the 16th biennial conference as she reflects on why Montgomery continues to inspire readers and travellers to Prince Edward Island. There is still time to register here to attend the conference either in person or virtually!
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My heartfelt good wishes to Lucy Maud Montgomery on the occasion of her 150th birthday. I send you greetings in my capacity as International Patron of the L. M. Montgomery Institute, a role I took on back in 2004.
Thousands of Japanese visit Prince Edward Island to enjoy the glorious landscapes and experience the close-knit communities of the Island that you depicted in such loving detail in your books.
But they also come to honour the spirit of Anne. Since 1952, when Hanako Muraoka published her beautiful translation of Anne of Green Gables, Anne has had a place in the hearts of the people of Japan.
At a time that was difficult for the Japanese, the neglected red-haired orphan girl with a rich imagination and a lively, lovable and hugely optimistic character, acted as a beacon lighting the way towards a brighter future.
Through Anne, you have given the world the enduring gift of inspiring hope, more important than ever in our tumultuous world today.
In commemorating your birthday, we also celebrate the resilience of the human spirit, and efforts to heal our beleaguered planet, as well as pray for peace and goodwill between nations and regions, and for the hope-filled friendship between all peoples.
Happy Birthday!
Listen to Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado’s tribute here:
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Next week’s tributes celebrate the sense of community that Montgomery, the LMMI, and the LMMI Conference foster.