Rideau Hall, Wednesday, January 27, 2016

I’m delighted to welcome all of you to Rideau Hall.

In the words of Henry Beissel, as written in the poem Cantos North:

North is
where all parallels
converge
to open out (…) 

Today, we converge on our nation’s capital in celebration of the North, in celebration of the people who do so much for the North, and in celebration of the Arctic Inspiration Prize.

First, let me say a few words about the Arctic Inspiration Prize itself. Since its inception, the prize has been superbly administered by ArcticNet and Université Laval. I’m so appreciative of their work.

Over the coming month, the Rideau Hall Foundation and the newly appointed Trustees of the Arctic Inspiration Prize will explore the potential for collaboration. The Prize has the exciting possibility of having sustainable impact on the people of the North.

This office, and by extension the Rideau Hall Foundation, is committed to celebrating and supporting outstanding Canadians. It’s a major part of what we do here.  The Arctic Inspiration Prize offers great potential in fulfilling this role in the North. 

Our office and past governors general have a longstanding relation with the North.

Lord Tweedsmuir, for example, undertook a cross-Canada tour during his tenure, and he was the first governor general to visit Canada’s Far North. He felt more attention needed to be paid to the region, as he believed the North could be “a binding force” for our country.

More recently, my predecessor Adrienne Clarkson had a strong focus on the North, and once said, “The North is in our psyches, in our imaginations, and must remain there for us to be Canadians.”

I myself have had the great privilege of visiting northern and arctic communities on numerous occasions. I’ve met so many remarkable people, and seen the extraordinary things being done to build communities, to celebrate culture, to protect our environment, and to strengthen our economy.

On one occasion, I ran with kids in the Terry Fox Run in Repulse Bay, and I can tell you some of those kids were so fast, they put me to shame!

Later this evening, the Arctic Inspiration Prize will go to a deserving team of Arctic enthusiasts. The funds awarded with the prize will go a long way towards strengthening the North. This prize is a remarkable and very practical tribute to the importance of the Arctic and the people who live and work there. It is exceedingly generous and forward-thinking, and it is truly helping us to build a smarter, more caring Canada. 

I’d like to thank and commend Arnold Witzig and Sima Sharifi, who have chosen Canada as their home and adopted the north and northerners as their family, as well as Martin Fortier for his important contributions to the Prize. Thank you all for your outstanding support and involvement in the Arctic.  

And I also offer a special welcome to the trustees, partners and supporters of this award. Thank you for being here and for your careful stewardship of this great Canadian honour.

I hope you enjoy the reception, and we’ll see you again at tonight’s ceremony.

Thank you.