Maxville, Saturday, July 30, 2011

This is my first visit to the Games, but I’ve known about Glengarry for a long time.

As a boy, I devoured Ralph Connor’s books, such as Glengarry Schooldays, The Man From Glengarry and The Arm of Gold. What a delight for Sharon and me to come to the place from whence this beautiful writing sprung.

It is also a pleasure for Sharon and me to be here as you celebrate the Year of the Clans. In doing so, you pay homage to your ancestors who helped to build this country.

It is especially gratifying to know that so many important Canadians share a Scottish heritage. Canadians like Tommy Douglas and William Lyon Mackenzie King had more than a pint of Scottish in them.

And I am proud to be here with you to celebrate my own Scottish roots.

The Glengarry Highland Games has a long tradition of encouraging excellence, and this is clearly evident in the performers and athletes competing this year.

Each of you will give your all in fantastic displays of showmanship and sportsmanship. As Canadians and others from around the world take in this world-class event over the weekend, I know they will find plenty of heroes to cheer on and so much wonderful music to enjoy.

And as I reflect on Canada as a whole, I can see the Scottish influence across the country, even in our Canadian Forces.

At Rideau Hall right now, and through the summer, the Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place every hour, on the hour. So I have had many opportunities to hear the skirl of the pipes and to enjoy the mastery these musicians have for their craft. Our Scottish heritage, evident from the shores of Nova Scotia to Vancouver Island, from Rideau Hall to right here in Maxville, is a reason to rejoice.

To all of you competing in the Games, I wish you the very best of luck. And to the spectators, I hope that you leave here with a better sense of the wonderfully diverse history of our country, and of the pioneering Scots who contributed so much to Canada and whose proud descendants will continue to do so in the future.

I now declare the 64th edition of the Glengarry Highland Games officially opened.