October 5, 2011 

Message from His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada,
on the Occasion of World Teachers' Day 

OTTAWA— Teachers have always been an incredible source of inspiration for me; so much so, in fact, that I have spent most of my life in universities. Today, like millions of people around the world, I am delighted to celebrate World Teachers’ Day. And this year, the theme of ‘Teachers for Gender Equality’ is particularly inspiring. 

As governor general, I chose to make learning and innovation one of the pillars of my mandate. These two themes were often paramount for the educators who were such an important part of my daily life. Not only did they have a tremendous amount of knowledge to impart to us, but they were also possessed of a passion seen in those who devote themselves to something much larger than themselves. 

I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation for and pay tribute to the teachers who have a positive impact in their classrooms, in their communities and, ultimately, in building a smarter, more caring nation. Just like the coaches of high-performance athletes, they have the passion and drive needed to push us to excel. By encouraging us to reach our full potential, our teachers play a vital role in society. They can be proud of their efforts to help create a better world. 

I wish everyone a wonderful World Teachers’ Day!

David Johnston 

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World Teachers’ Day is celebrated on October 5, 2011.

Media information:

Marie-Ève Létourneau
Rideau Hall Press Office
613-998-0287
marie-eve.letourneau@gg.ca 

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