Beaconsfield, Quebec, Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Thank you for welcoming me here today.

It may surprise you to know that, like you, I have come here to learn. I readily admit to knowing only half as much as I would like to know, and knowing barely a fraction of what there is to know.

I am a lifelong student. And the knowledge that I acquire comes from every place I visit, every person I talk to, everything I read, everything I see.

And it comes from young people like you.

In fact, over the course of my life, I have learned so much from young people—from my daughters and now my grandchildren, to all the students I encountered during my time as an educator and university president. And I am proud to be able to learn from students in schools all across Canada, including right here in Beaconsfield.

Because of my experience, I know how much we can all learn from young people and their unique perspective, as they are growing up in extraordinary times.

Consider the age we live in. We are in the midst of a digital communication revolution, and it is enabling us to gather, store and share information to an extent never before imagined. More specifically, it is estimated that we now generate and store 5 exabytes of computer data online every second day.

That means that every 48 hours, we are uploading more data than has been printed in all of human history!

As a result, it is also estimated that we will gain more knowledge over the course of the next 40 years than has been gained in the history of humanity!   

And it is your generation that will make these discoveries. The collective knowledge of your future selves will dwarf what your teachers and I know today.

Of course, it will be up to you to decide what to do with that knowledge. And you are already proving yourselves to be up to the task.

Young people are not waiting to be given an opportunity; they are seizing opportunities at every turn. They are modern-day alchemists, turning idealism, thoughtfulness and knowledge into action.

There are examples of young people here in Canada and around the world taking the reins of democracy, participating in politics, influencing policy, and making their voices heard. You have a place in our global discourse, and it is important that you get involved.

I have always said that in a democratic society, everyone has something to give. Some of you may already have discovered what that is, others may still be looking. Regardless, I invite all of you to find your passion—whether it be the well-being of our society, climate change, free enterprise, jobs, health care, or challenges such as homelessness, cancer or mental illness—and to share that passion. Share it with your peers, with your teachers and elected representatives, and with your family and friends.

Get involved in your communities, because we need your input and energy to create a better world.

Young people are intelligent enough, savvy enough, and knowledgeable enough to play a significant role in our country.

Your contributions matter because you recognize that ours is a complex world, one with many challenges, but you never lose hope for the future.

In fact, it is that hope of a better world—that moral compass—that is driving you to do more in your communities and around the country, to get involved at the grassroots level and create change.

You may be asking yourselves, what is the best way for us to serve the community, to make this a better world? I already mentioned one way. The more we study and the more we know, the better we are able to understand problems and imagine solutions. But that is not the only way.

Giving back—whether in time, talent or money—can make a big difference as well.

I have met many young Canadians who volunteer in their communities when they see a need, and who raise awareness and money for many worthy causes.

There are also thousands of young Canadians who do not draw much attention, but who work tirelessly for their communities and for their families. Like you, they strengthen their communities.

I know this school has plenty of programs to encourage civic engagement, and I am pleased to see students take advantage of them. I would also like to congratulate and thank all of you involved in the Heroes Park project. 

These giving moments are an essential part of the smarter, more caring nation to which we continue to aspire.

Let me end today by asking you a question: what do you want the future to look like?

I ask this because you are the ones who will lead Canada in the coming decades. You are the ones who will deal with the fallout from my generation’s decisions—both the good and bad. You will have to handle an aging population and a world that is more connected than ever before. You will have to decide what is right, what is just and what is fair.

That is precisely why we must all recognize your responsibility.

Volunteer; get involved; stay educated; when it is your time, exercise your right to vote, and get involved in our democratic process in any way you can.

In 2017, Canada will mark the 150th anniversary of Confederation. I want everyone here in this room and students all across the country to come up with ideas and projects to make that year special. That will be your gift to Canada, and it can be the beginning of the grand legacy you have the potential to create.

Some say young people are the future, but I say the future is now. Let us all work together to build better communities and a better Canada.

Thank you.