Charlottetown, Monday, November 7, 2005

My husband Jean-Daniel Lafond, my daughter Marie-Éden, and I are delighted to be here with you on Prince Edward Island.

My daughter and I were born on an island in the south. And here, I feel as though we are reconnecting with that inexplicable, yet tangible, bond that ties all islanders together the world over.

The far-reaching waves that surround this land are the same, at once a natural protection and a call to what lies beyond.

This is not my first visit to your island. I have fond memories of wonderful vacations spent here with my mother, of an enchanting campsite near Cavendish, of the rich red earth and sand dunes, of the beaches that, I am told, stretch out for more than 800 kilometres.

These wonderful memories may explain my delight at returning once again to your island. I am also delighted to have brought my daughter here for the first time, particularly since she has been dreaming of this trip for weeks.

I wanted to be with you to celebrate the 150^th Anniversary of the Incorporation of Charlottetown. I can think of no better opportunity to remember the heritage of this city and celebrate the tremendous achievements of its citizens.

But there is another, more powerful reason why I am so delighted to be here with you today. As governor general, I wanted to make a pilgrimage, if you will, to the very place where Canada was born.

It was here in Charlottetown, in 1864, that the Fathers of Confederation first set in motion the dream that is Canada, a dream that soon after became a reality.

A dream that we continue to shape with our own adventures, our own experiences, our own viewpoints, and, we must admit, the lessons we have learned from our mistakes.

A dream that each and every day we continue to realize for the betterment of all.

I was in the Confederation Chamber a moment ago, and I felt as though time stood still.

In that Chamber, untouched by the reaches of time, I imagined I could hear the echoes of conversations that led to the birth of this country.

Those men came together with the hope of creating a new country. The country they left to us has become a place of infinite possibilities.

As you know, the Mi’kmaq called your province “Abegweit,” which means “cradled on the waves.” As a mother, I find it particularly appropriate that this place should also be the birthplace of Confederation in Canada.

We all have a responsibility to continue what the Fathers of Confederation started. After all, their work was just the beginning. It is up to every citizen of this country to take up the challenge in the same spirit of co‑operation, in a world that is ever changing.

Today, in the dawn of a new century, a new millennium, Canada itself is a new country—one that contains the world, all the richer for its bilingualism, cultural diversity, achievements, and the unique place it holds in the concert of nations.

This is a country where each and every one of us has the opportunity to shape its development and to reach our full potential.

I have said, and will continue to say, that my motto as governor general of Canada is Breaking Down Solitudes. We must break down the solitudes that relegate too many in our society to silence, at times unnoticed by those who could reach out a helping hand.

We must break down the solitudes that separate the haves from the have‑nots, established Canadians from newcomers, young from old, our urban centres from rural life.

I believe that a country thrives when a willingness to live together can be expressed freely, when differences are respected and an unwavering spirit of openness abounds.

Canada represents the hope for a better world for so many people driven to despair in the face of barbarism.  We must keep alive that hope for as many people as we can.

Together, we have already shown that it is possible for people from different linguistic, cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds to live side by side in peace and respect.

It is this spirit of solidarity that will one day break down the remaining solitudes. A spirit of solidarity so often found among islanders. I am counting on you to help make this a reality.

During my stay with you, I hope to hear your thoughts on this dream, a dream for which I wish with all of my heart. Together, we can build the Canada of tomorrow. A Canada of even greater tolerance, one we can be proud to leave to our children and future generations.

The dialogue we are beginning today is dear to my heart. I will be meeting with students; with women dedicated to protecting women victims of violence; with farmers, fishermen, artists, and new Canadians. I will take the stories and ideas you share with me and in turn share them with the rest of the country.

I am one citizen among equals, and I look forward to hearing your concerns, your dreams, your hopes. There is so much for you to teach me. There is so much for us to discuss.

My husband, daughter, and I would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your warm welcome. We will remember it always. It is our hope that this visit will be the first of many more to come.

I look forward to meeting with you over the next few days.

Thank you.