Gatineau, Wednesday, April 5, 2006

It gives me great joy to be here among so many young people who are such skilful and proficient spellers. Congratulations to everyone who has made it to the finals!

Spelling is a sport, one that exercises the muscles of the brain and memory. You prepared for this bee like an athlete trains for competition: with passion, determination and discipline.

Spelling is also a game that we learn to play as children. Toddlers learn to speak by playing around with words. They can repeat the same word over and over again and burst out laughing each time simply because they like the way it sounds. Curiosity, pleasure and a desire to communicate with others are powerful motivations for a child.

These are the same motivations that guide us as we learn and master language throughout our lives. By expanding our vocabularies and continuously improving our language skills, we open ourselves up to the world and to those around us. Words are an inexhaustible source of discovery and pleasure.

But beyond simple pleasure, words give us power. Because when you can express yourself, you can define who you are. Québécois singer and poet Gilles Vigneault once said that [translation] “violence is the absence of words,” and I couldn’t agree more. How many terrible acts have been committed because someone could not find the words to express their suffering, distress, solitude, or uncertainty?

I am so pleased that young people like you are striving to master language. Such curiosity is a sign of your openness. You are role models for so many other young people who hope one day to live out their dreams and build a place for themselves in the world.

You—the young people here today—you are one of my priorities as governor general. I want to meet with you in your schools, your neighbourhoods, your communities, your families. I wanted to be here with you today to show my support and because I admire what you are doing.

As you strive for excellence, never forget the pleasure, the love, the power that words can have in your life. Beyond winning a medal, an award or a ribbon, never forget that languages—those we speak, write, and sing, with which we build relationships with one another—allow us to tell the world who we are and to share our story. This is an invaluable treasure.

You have a wonderful opportunity to live in a country where two of the most widely spoken languages in the world are thriving side by side. Never forget that the more languages we speak, the broader our horizons. Share this joy and knowledge with everyone you meet.

Thank you for welcoming me with such enthusiasm! Good luck!