Rideau Hall, Monday, April 22, 2013

Welcome to Rideau Hall, and thank you for being here for this important and timely discussion.

Allow me to start by thanking those individuals from the MasterCard Foundation who worked closely with Rideau Hall staff in organizing this event.

I would also like to acknowledge Ms. Reeta Roy, the Foundation’s president and CEO, who will speak to that organization’s wonderful Africa initiative in a moment.  

You may know that I have spent much of my working life forging partnerships in learning, as a former teacher, university administrator and now in my present role.

Since my installation as governor general two-and-a-half years ago, I have had the privilege of visiting schools and learning institutions here in Canada and around the world.

I have met with education leaders in Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and the Caribbean—as well as right across Canada— and I am delighted to see a growing focus on collaboration between Canadians and Africans.

Together, we have such potential for partnerships and fruitful exchange.

I believe that learning together is an essential part of living together in the 21st century. Through learning and discovery, we can build the smarter, more caring world of which we dream.

To some, this may seem mere platitude, but it is firmly grounded in fact. Smart and caring often do go hand in hand.

Let me share just one example.

As anthropologist and Massey lecturer Wade Davis has pointed out, science has shown there are no major genetic differences among the peoples of the world, but rather only variations caused by geography. Even the most isolated population on Earth contains 85 per cent of humanity’s genetic diversity.

“What all of this means,” Davis observes, “is that biologists and population geneticists have at last proved to be true something that philosophers have always dreamed: We are all literally brothers and sisters. We are all cut from the same genetic cloth.”

This insight provides a wonderful example of the way in which our “smartness” can reinforce and support our “caring.” Knowing as we do that we are one human family can help us to build a more fair and just world for all.

By learning and innovating together, we can develop new knowledge and strengthen ties between peoples and nations. I often refer to this as the diplomacy of knowledge, which essentially means collaborating across international borders, academic disciplines and institutional boundaries.

At first glance, Canada and Africa may look like a study in contrasts, but in fact we have much in common.

Canada and the African continent are above all characterized by great diversity—of peoples, cultures and geographies.

Canada and African countries have also historically faced a number of common challenges—the problem of brain drain, for example, and how to reverse it.

And of course, Canadians and Africans share a concern for the well-being of our young people, who have such energy and creative potential.

We have so much to teach and to learn from each other. Time and again in my life, I have seen the remarkable things that can happen when diverse people achieve the right mixture of creativity, communication and co-operation.

For this reason, I am delighted to open this round-table discussion. I look forward to hearing your insights.

Thank you.