TORONTO - The Queen ended her nine-day Canadian tour Tuesday with a poignant send-off that highlighted the warm reception she received on the visit that bridged tradition and innovation.

There was much the Queen had to endure on this trip: a downpour as she arrived in Halifax, travelling between three cities in one day, a blackout and blistering temperatures in Toronto.

"She's held up remarkably well," said Robert Finch, with the Monarchist League of Canada.

"I mean, as a 32-year-old, when I looked at that itinerary, I was exhausted. The fact that she's 84, it's just phenomenal that she's able to do this. And she does it so well.

"She is a pro at what she does, there's no doubt about that."

Undaunted by the heat wave that's engulfed Toronto, a large crowd of emotional well-wishers bid adieu to the royals during a departure ceremony Tuesday on the front lawn of the Ontario legislature that included a 21-gun salute.

Thousands of people cheered for the Queen as she greeted the crowd, straining to catch a glimpse of the monarch as she ambled across the lawn, seemingly oblivious to the searing heat -- which felt above 40 C with the humidity.

Wearing a raspberry pink Stewart Parvin coat over a lime and pink dress with matching hat by Rachel Trevor Morgan, an upbeat Queen smiled and waved to the crowds as they clapped, whooped and hollered.

Richard Berthelsen, who worked on several royal tours in various capacities from 1978 to 2005, said the Canadian public's affection for the Queen seems to be growing.

"Early on in her reign she was very young, a very romantic kind of figure being thrust in that role at a very young age," he said.

Now, Berthelsen said, there are many Canadians who have only known this Queen as their sovereign and with her experience comes respect.

"Every now and then one of these tours comes along and it kind of crystallizes it," he said.

"I think this was one of them that really crystallized kind of the new era, which is this very elder person who has a huge amount of history with this country in particular."

The admiration seems to be mutual, said Finch. This was the Queen's 22nd visit to Canada and she has visited here more often than any other Commonwealth nation.

"There is no question that there is a tremendous bond between Canada and the Queen," he said. "She takes her role as Queen of Canada very seriously."

This wasn't the easiest tour for the Queen. Royal tours are always hectic, experts say, but it's still an exhausting pace for the 84-year-old monarch and 89-year-old Prince Philip.

Add to that the rain and chilly temperatures in Halifax, an exhausting Saturday that saw them go from Ottawa to three events in Winnipeg then to Toronto, stifling heat and a power outage in Toronto and you get one tiring trip.

There were also people who broke protocol and touched her back, one woman who broke free of the crowd and marched past security to give the Queen a tea towel and other unscripted moments in the otherwise highly co-ordinated visit.

"As for touching the Queen or breaking with protocol a bit, I sometimes get the feeling that's something that we often look at and talk about," Finch said.

"I think the Queen probably goes to bed later and laughs about it."

The whirlwind visit included more traditional events such as presiding over an historic fleet review in Halifax harbour, a church service and the Queen's Plate horse race. Those were contrasted with events highlighting Canadian innovation, such as a tour of Research in Motion in Waterloo, Ont., and a tour of a 3D film studio.

There were also many walkabouts, which the Queen is said to like, opportunities to meet the public.

At her last walkabout at the Ontario legislature Tuesday some waved British flags, others hoisted corgis -- the Queen's favourite dog -- aloft in a last-ditch effort to attract her attention.

A few were lucky.

Stefani Konidis and her nieces, who stood outside on the lawn to offer white roses to the Queen, met the monarch.

"Who can say no to three beautiful girls standing in the heat trying to give her flowers?" Konidis said afterwards.

"It's something they're going to remember for the rest of their lives, no question."

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty was unable to contain his unabashed admiration for the monarch during her tour of the province.

The two seemed jovial as they strolled down the hallway, both smiling and chatting as McGuinty introduced her to visiting dignitaries. "Your Majesty, our house is your house," the premier told her in his speech.

But as the Queen took her seat on the stage in the legislature's main foyer, McGuinty's right hand darted out, hovering dangerously close to her back. The monarch seemed unaware of the gesture -- a major breach of protocol had the premier actually touched her.

Outside, the Queen unveiled a plaque commemorating the 150th anniversary of the dedication of Queen's Park by her great-grandfather before joining Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean for a walkabout in the blistering sun.

The ceremony concluded with the Queen's inspection of the honour guard and a 21-gun salute before she departed for the airport.

There, the royals boarded a plane bound for New York City, where the Queen made her first address to the UN General Assembly in 53 years.

The Queen also placed a wreath at the site of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks and visited a British garden to honour the 67 Britons killed that day.

It was her first visit to the city in more than 30 years.