January 26, 2023

Check against delivery

Hello,

I would like to begin by acknowledging that we are gathered here on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people who have lived on and cared for this land for thousands of years.

Welcome to Rideau Hall for this special presentation of the 2022 Governor General’s Academic All-Canadian Commendation.

Congratulations!

And let me also congratulate you in my mother tongue, Inuktitut:

Congratulations on your excellence in sports and academics.

You have certainly set a high bar.

All of you being honoured here today have worked so hard to excel at your chosen sport and also at your academics. It is no easy task to juggle such a workload, but you have managed it through resilience, tenacity and dedication.

It is truly impressive and I cannot wait to see what you do in the future. I have no doubt you will continue to impress!

I would also like to acknowledge your families, coaches, teachers and friends who have supported you on this journey. We each need a support system in place to achieve success, and I’m so pleased that some of them were able to join you here today. 

And finally, I would like to thank U SPORTS for all that you do to promote the accomplishments of these young people and others like them across the country, and for continuing to bring Canadians together through sport.

Once again, let me congratulate all of you on earning this well-deserved honour.

Thank you.